THE MODERATOR: We are now joined by Bernhard and Jason banker at the PNC Championship, our defending champions. How does it feel to be back here?
BERNHARD LANGER: It's great. I love this tournament. Many years ago, I called it the fifth major, jokingly, but it's a very special event. It's a family event and living in Boca Raton in Florida, only three hours away, we were fortunate enough to make this a real family event for the Langers and bring a lot of the kids up here and have a great weekend, and to be able to play with my boys and my girls.
You know, everybody gets to either play or caddie or be involved in some way, shape or form. It's been great and PNC is a phenomenal sponsor. The tournament has grown in stat your, and hear from the public, you know, they love watching it on TV. That's all I have to say.
Anything you want to add?
JASON LANGER: A lot of great memories here. It's a bit of a family tradition. I think that Dad first played in 2002 or 2003 and been here almost every year since. It's definitely a part of the Langer family and plenty of good memories here. For me, both playing, and also walking. Excited to be back.
Q. What stands out to you guys from last year's performance?
BERNHARD LANGER: Well, what stands out to me is how well he putted. You know, he always goes -- when we read the greens. But we played 36 holes and almost every putt he hit, started where he wanted to start or very close to it. He made a whole bunch and even the ones that didn't in, they were good putts. He's actually playing better golf now than he's played, and he's played very little but his golf swing has matured and he's playing better golf now than when he played almost every day or four times a week, right.
JASON LANGER: Not bad. I'm a little more variable now.
Q. So you're saying you would or wouldn't agree with definitely playing better now?
BERNHARD LANGER: No, I mean, yeah, maybe I'm playing a little better. Probably towards the end of my college years and afterwards -- when you don't practise, your short game goes.
But you know, still comfortable with my game and I'm just happy to be on the golf course. You know, in this format in a scramble, it really is 60 percent putting, 20, 30 percent wedge shots. So if you can putt well, you have a chance.
Q. And Bernhard, the last time we saw you, the long putt at the Charles Schwab Championship. How have you been spending the last few weeks?
BERNHARD LANGER: Put the clubs away for a couple of weeks. Tried to spend time with the family and the grand kids, working out, and enjoy a few days away from golf. And then last couple of weeks, I tried to start in golf again and practise a little bit more, knowing I'm going to play here.
But you know, being at home and taking care of the stuff everybody has to take care of, pay bills and taking care of autograph requests. We've been working on a documentary of my life story which takes up a lot of EXTRA time because cameras are following me all over the place. That was a lot of work. They are here, as well taking a few more pictures and getting a couple interviews with some of the greats.
It's been reasonably busy, and I'm looking forward to Christmas. Christmas means a lot to me and my family, and we get together, it will be a very nice time.
Q. How much do you get to play up there --
JASON LANGER: I got asked this question a couple times today. Maybe once every three weeks.
Q. How many family members have you got here this week?
BERNHARD LANGER: We have -- supposed to have two grand kids but one is not very well moment so he may not come. We have one grandchild -- all four are going to be here. Most of them are going off about eight.
Q. And what is the oldest grandchild? Any competition coming up?
BERNHARD LANGER: Not yet. He's four and a half. They have got a ways to go.
Q. I know family is a very important thing for you. What's the best part about being a dad?
BERNHARD LANGER: Just to spend time with your kids and influence them and guide them along the process. I mean, I'm talking about parenting in general. When they are very little, they are totally helpless. You know, you've got to do everything with the babies, and it's like 24/7, and then as they get a little older, you can interact with them, once they start to speak and express themselves.
And it's just, you know, being there for them, trying to be a role model and instill in them the truths that I've learned and the things that are important in life. You know, to treat other people well and to believe in God and Jesus Christ, and to just be honest and not lie and stale, and things that are very common nowadays, sadly to say, in our society. There's no more truths. If you say I'm -- you say what truth, whatever they believe in, is it. So I don't want to go on about it.
Q. Have you had any calls from Dad since being up in New York?
JASON LANGER: Not too many panic calls thankfully. We're still very close. We keep in close contact, and golf is one of the things that we bonded most over when I'm at home or we're on a trip together. Even though I'm not playing as much anymore -- have I glad I've been with my father in this event.
BERNHARD LANGER: We're very blessed with our kids. I didn't say that early on. We never had drug issues or alcohol issues or other things that are very common. So we were very fortunate how they all turned out, and it's not just us. It's the peers and who they hang out with and that kind of stuff is very important.
Q. As defending champions, who is going to win the 2024 PNC Championship?
BERNHARD LANGER: Hopefully you're looking at them. You never know. There's some stiff competition out there, definitely. I like the idea of the different tees they implemented the last years, which makes it a lot more competitive for everybody.
Q. Kind of a crazy year for you. What was the journey back like for you? How difficult was it to get back out on the golf course, and are you still a little bit amazed that you're able to play at the level that you've been?
BERNHARD LANGER: I'm not whatever surprised where I am now. But I did come back pretty quick. I started in tournaments three months after I tore my Achilles which is a very speedy recovery. But I couldn't have done it if I was a basketball player or football player or any of that. I was able to turn and swing the way I wanted to swing.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports