Former Masters champion Bernhard Langer has confirmed this weekend’s BMW International Open will be his last event ever on the DP World Tour.
Germany’s most successful player of all time confirmed the news to the official website of the European-based circuit.
His appearance at Golfclub München Eichenried in Munich will represent his 513th and final appearance.
Langer made his debut on the European Tour in 1974 and has since won 42 titles across five decades.
Only Seve Ballesteros has a better record.
The 66-year-old has a glittering CV which includes three PGA Tour wins and a record 46 victories on the senior circuit.
He has also represented Europe in the Ryder Cup on 10 occasions.
The two-time Masters winner said: “I don’t know yet [how he will react].
“I’ve never said goodbye to anything so far in terms of golf, this is going to be a first experience and I have a feeling it’s going to be very emotional.”
He added: “It means a great deal, just to play in front of the home crowd.
“And hopefully I can make the cut, but I hear the golf course is a lot longer than it used to be, and that’s a challenge for me.
“I’m getting shorter, and the course is getting longer and that’s not a good combination.”
Langer was supposed to make his final Masters appearance in April.
But he tore his Achilles tendon playing pickleball two months before the major.
He will bid farewell to the iconic major next year.
“I’m feeling much better,” he said about his injury. “It’s five months today since the operation and things are getting better and better.
“So, I’m starting to walk more and more. It’s still a bit difficult at times, but golf is not a problem.
“I can rotate pretty good. I can transfer the weight. I’m just a little weak, my calf muscle is much smaller on my left leg than my right leg. My balance is not quite there, but we’ll work on it.”
Langer will play the first two rounds of the BMW International Open alongside Marcel Siem and Martin Kaymer.
Siem clinched victory last week at the Italian Open and has since vowed to stop partying to realise his Ryder Cup dream.