Projecting where Bernhard Langer could match Hale Irwin's record 45 PGA TOUR Champions wins

Where did he go?

When is he coming back?

Those were questions posed by readers when Bernhard Langer took time off after The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex in July.

At 65 years of age, playing every week probably isn't going to be in the cards, so his absences shouldn't be keeping us up at night. Over the years, events have been passed up for graduations and other family commitments.

That balance isn't going to change because he's approaching a record. Langer’s victory at the Chubb Classic in February marked his 43rd PGA TOUR Champions title, two shy of Hale Irwin's record 45 wins, compiled between the years 1995 and 2007.

Langer, whose first PGA TOUR Champions win came in 2007, finished solo fourth at last week’s Ascension Charity Classic in St. Louis. He shared the lead at one point Sunday, indicating that despite a wide range of off-course priorities this year, he isn’t intent in letting the chance to match or surpass Irwin pass him by.

Langer flew to Germany after cashing T12 at The Senior Open to spend time with his 99-year-old mother. Upon returning to the States, he met up with his family in the mountains of North Carolina to recharge his battery for the final stretch of the PGA TOUR Champions season, into the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs.

Returning to En-Joie and the DICK'S Sporting Goods Open, he quietly opened with 71 before closing 67-68 for T6. At the time it was his eighth top-10 of the season.

He added solo fourth last week in St. Louis after shooting his age in the first round to share the lead with eventual winner Padraig Harrington.

There are seven events left in the 2022 season on PGA TOUR Champions. Winning two of them would equal the record set by Irwin. It would also double his win total this season in his age 64/65 year.

Standing in his way on his journey to the top of the mountain are the elite 2022 quintet of Harrington (3 wins), Steven Alker (3), Miguel Angel Jiménez (3), Jerry Kelly (3) and Steve Stricker (2).

Langer has won at least two events each season since his record haul of seven in the incredible 2017 campaign.

One more win this season keeps that streak alive.

Nobody said equaling or eclipsing Irwin would be easy. Father Time waits for no man.

Here's my evaluation on the final seven events and his best chances to add to his victory total.

Sept. 16-18 - Sanford International - Minnehaha Country Club, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Fourth consecutive appearance in Sioux Falls with T3 in 2020 the best of the bunch. The par-70 (6,729 yards) with tight fairways should be right up his alley as evidence by his 65-65 close two years ago. It's no secret that he's not the longest on Tour (60th in driving distance). Any time he can attack pins with more lofted clubs will help. Led the field in putts per GIR last week in St. Louis and opened by shooting his age in Round 1.

Projection: T12

Sept. 23-25 - PURE Insurance Championship - Pebble Beach Golf Links, Monterey Peninsula, California

Eight previous starts have resulted in seven top-10 paydays and three on the podium. 2017 champ went close with T2 (2016 and 2020). Worst finish is T11 in 2018. Bonus of two par-5 holes helps as will another week of tight driving conditions. Teed it up six consecutive years here entering this season.

Projection: T15

Oct. 7-9 - Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS - Timuquana CC - Jacksonville, Florida

Debut event on PGA TOUR Champions last year. Racked up 12 birdies against four bogeys for T7 (8 under). The travel (bye week prior) and change of grass to Bermuda won't be an issue for the Boca Raton resident. Also it will be back-to-back tournaments on some of the smallest greens on Tour. Pebble Beach provides only 3,000 square feet on average while Timuquana CC averages only 5,000. Only three players were 10-under or better last year, so it's not a shootout.

Projection: T6

Oct. 14-16 - SAS Championship - Prestonwood CC - Cary, North Carolina

Eight top-10 finishes from 14 starts including two wins (2012, 2018) and five times on the podium. Posted opening-round 62 en route to 2018 victory. Signed for the low round of the day in Round 2 last year before closing with 74. Only one top-10 in the last three visits.

Projection: T2

Oct. 21-23 - Dominion Energy Charity Classic - The Country Club of Virginia - Richmond, Virginia

Won two of the last five (2017, 2020) here and never worse than T6 from six events. T4 is the worst payday from the last five and was runner up in 2018. Placed nine of 18 rounds on par-72 (7,025 yards) at 67 or better. If he's healthy, all signs point here.

Projection: WIN No. 44

Nov. 4-6 - TimberTech Championship - Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club - Boca Raton, Florida

Home game after a week off sets up perfectly. Sleep at home, family around and a 10-minute commute points in his favor. First time for Royal Palm on PGA TOUR Champions, as the Old Course at Broken Sound is being renovated. All things equal, he should expect to compete and win in his backyard.

Projection: WIN No. 45

Nov. 10-13 - Charles Schwab Cup Championship - Phoenix Country Club - Phoenix, Arizona

Winless from five tries and "just" two top-10 paychecks (T5, 2021; T4, 2019). If he's one behind or tied with Irwin heading into the week, all bets are off!

Projection: T5

If these projections hold, Langer will enter 2023 one win away from setting the all-time PGA TOUR Champions victory record.