Bernhard Langer leads Hoag Classic in bid for PGA TOUR Champions' record-breaking 46th title

Things to Know

In his bid for a PGA TOUR Champions record 46th title, 2008 champion Bernhard Langer plays his last five holes in 5-under to card a 5-under 66

Following a T5 in last year’s Hoag Classic, Doug Barron position’s himself for a third PGA TOUR Champions title

Seeking a fourth consecutive top-15 finish in the Hoag Classic, Miguel Angel Jimenez follows a 7-under 64 with a 4-under 67 in round two

In his bid to become the first three-time winner of the Hoag Classic, Fred Couples opens with back-to-back 5-under 66s and is the only player bogey-free through 36 holes

Making his eighth PGA TOUR Champions start, open qualifier Harry Rudolph birdies three of his last five holes to sign for a 6-under 65 and reach 8-under 134 (T7) headed into the final round

Defending Hoag Classic champion Retief Goosen sits T35 at 4-under 138 in his bid to become the first player to successfully defend his Hoag Classic title

Bernhard Langer (1st/-12)

Making his 12 start in the Hoag Classic, the 2008 champion played his last five holes in 5-under (birdie-eagle-par-birdie-birdie) to post a 5-under 66.

Langer seeks a PGA TOUR Champions record 46th title, breaking his tie with Hale Irwin.

In 54-hole events completed in their entirety, Langer has converted a 36-hole lead/co-lead into victory on 20 occasions, including each of his last three efforts (2022 Chubb Classic, 2022 TimberTech Championship and 2023 Chubb Classic).

For the second consecutive round, Langer missed only two fairways.

Langer is making his 12th start in the Hoag Classic and comes off a T8 in 2022.

Other Notes

Following a T5 in last year’s Hoag Classic, Memphis native Doug Barron (T2/-11) offset two bogeys with seven birdies to post a 5-under 66; Barron seeks a third career PGA TOUR Champions title in his 74th start this week (2019 DICK’S Sporting Goods Open, 2021 Shaw Charity Classic)

With birdies on four of his last six holes, Miguel Angel Jimenez (T2/-11) carded a 4-under 67 in his bid for a fourth consecutive top-15 finish in the Hoag Classic (2019/14th, 2020/T13, 2022/T15); in three starts on PGA TOUR Champions this season before this week, Jimenez has not finished worse than T16 (Cologuard Classic).

In his bid to become the Hoag Classic’s first three-time winner, Fred Couples (T4/-10) opened his ninth Hoag Classic with back-to-back 5-under 66s and remains the only player without a bogey or worse; the 2010 and 2014 Hoag Classic champion has never finished outside the top-10 in the event.

Making his eighth PGA TOUR Champions start, open qualifier and La Jolla, CA resident Harry Rudolph birdied three of his last five holes to sign for a 6-under 65 and sit T7 at 8-under 134; most recent player to win after earning a spot into the field via open qualifying was Dicky Pride at the 2021 Mitsubishi Electric Classic; Rudolph’s best finish in seven previous starts was T34/2021 U.S. Senior Open Championship.

2022 Hoag Classic runner-up, K.J. Choi, offset one bogey with seven birdies to post a 6-under 65 and move to 8-under 134 (T7); Choi is in search of his second career PGA TOUR Champions title (2021 PURE Insurance Championship).

Newly nominated World Golf Hall of Fame Member Padraig Harrington opened his first Hoag Classic with scores of 69-68 and will head into the final round T27 at 5-under 137.

Defending Hoag Classic champion Retief Goosen is 4-under 138 (T35) in his bid to become the first player to successfully defend a Hoag Classic title.