Langer has finishing kick

Bernhard Langer has won two green jackets and more than 80 other professional tournaments around the world, so the pressure of a final-round lead at the Toshiba Classic probably won’t be too difficult for him to handle.

Still, the thoughts of what could have been might just haunt him.

Langer shot a second consecutive 65 at Newport Beach Country Club on Saturday for a two-day total of 12-under-par 130 and leads Tim Simpson, Mark Johnson, Jeff Sluman and Morris Hatalsky by three shots.

But Langer was kicking himself a bit after playing the final four holes in one over and failing to make a birdie on No. 15 or No. 18 -- two reachable par fives that are playing as the easiest holes on the course.

“I definitely gave some of the players a chance,” Langer said. “If I had closed out the way I had played the first 14 holes, I would have a six-shot lead right now and it would have been a lot easier [today].”

Langer was cruising at seven under through 13 holes and had a four-stroke lead with the two par fives coming up.

He was five under on the par fives to that point in the tournament, but he missed a 10-foot birdie try at No. 15 and a 13-foot attempt at No. 18.

Add in a bogey at the par-three 17th -- his first bogey of the tournament -- and what was looking like a runaway became much more of a contest heading into the final round.

“The finish really kind of stinks, especially when you played that well to that point, but otherwise no complaints,” Langer said. “You have to look at the positives. I’m three ahead, so if I shoot a good round it’s going to be difficult for them to catch me.”

Langer, the 1985 and 1993 Masters champion who turned 50 in August, is seeking his second Champions Tour victory. He won the Adminstaff Small Business Classic last year in Texas in the fourth start of his career.

Also seeking his second victory is Johnson, the former beer truck driver who won at Newport Beach in 2005 and finished second in 2006 but lost his card after finishing 65th on the money list last season.

Johnson started Saturday with six consecutive pars, but had birdies at Nos. 7, 8 and 10 to momentarily tie for the lead. He gave a couple back with bogeys at Nos. 11 and 13, but birdied No. 15 and finished within three.

“I’ve been on a little low and I come in here and things have kind of turned around a little bit,” said Johnson, who is playing on a sponsor’s exemption. “We have an opportunity, but I’m going to have to play an awful great round of golf.”

Langer’s two-day total is one stroke short of the 36-hole record set by Rodger Davis in 2003 and equaled by Jay Haas last year. But comebacks have been the theme of the Champions Tour this season. Through four events, no second-round leader has won.

Still, Langer seems to be cruising. He is second in the field in driving distance at 297.4 yards and is tied for second in total putts with 53 through two rounds. He needed only 24 putts Saturday.

“He’s going to be extremely hard to catch,” said Sluman, who shot 65 Saturday. “This is right up his alley. He’s hitting the ball well and putting it great.”

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peter.yoon@latimes.com