Langer Beats Ballesteros in a New Battle in Britain

West Germany’s Bernhard Langer won the $368,000 British PGA Championship by four strokes over Spain’s Severiano Ballesteros Monday.

Langer shot a final-round 69 for an 18-under-par total of 270, a tournament record. Ballesteros shot a final-round 69 to finish at 274. Jose-Maria Canizares of Spain and Peter Senior of Australia were tied for third at 278.

American Rick Hartman wound up in a four-way tie for fifth at 280 after shooting a 70.

After three rounds, a battle between Langer and Ballesteros was building. The two giants of European golf played together on the final day, but Ballesteros could never overcome the West German.

The event was played on Wentworth’s West Course, home of the World Match Play Championship. Ballesteros had beaten Langer three times here in match-play competition.

Langer not only beat the British PGA record of 271, set in 1967 by Englishman Brian Huggett at Thorndon Park, but was four shots better than the previous best four-round total over Wentworth’s West Course, set by Ireland’s Christy O’Connor Sr. in the 1959 Daks tournament.

Langer, who has never won at Wentworth before, played in the tournament with a back injury that had sidelined him for four months and may require surgery.