Bernhard Langer has finished second twice but never won the Open Championship. (Photo: Getty Images)

Open Championship Notebook: Langer gets a spot

Bernhard Langer and Fredrik Jacobson are in the field as two spots open up. Plus, British legend Tony Jacklin also plans a farewell to the Open this year, and Ian Poulter picks the men he'd most like to play with at St. Andrews.

PGA.com news services

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Bernhard Langer and Fredrik Jacobson were added Monday to the Open Championship field when Shingo Katayama of Japan and Jay Haas of the United States withdrew.

It will be the 27th Open for Langer, who tied for second in 1984 when Seve Ballesteros won. Langer also finished second in 1981 and has been third four times.

The European Ryder Cup captain won the Masters in 1985 and 1993.

JACKLIN BIDS FAREWELL: The crowds gathering for Jack Nicklaus' Open farewell this week should also know that Britain's Tony Jacklin firmly expects this to be his last appearance, too.

A week after celebrating his 61st birthday, the groundbreaking 1969 winner is playing in the Open for the first since 2001 and for only the fourth time since 1989.

"I am sure it will be my last," he said Monday. "I'm here out of respect for Jack, the greatest player of my generation. I thought it was the right thing to do. I'm a little apprehensive because I hardly play now -- once a week maybe. I'm concentrating on other things."

Among them is a golf course design project in Florida with Nicklaus that is scheduled to open in December.

BRING ON THE GREATS: Who does Ian Poulter want to play with this week? The bigger the name, the better.

"Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Ernie or Phil. Jack maybe," he said.

This, of course, is Jack Nicklaus' farewell to the majors and the two players teeing off with him will have the best seats in the house for a moment of history.

"I am really sentimental and it would be awesome," added Poulter, who last year came out in Union Jack trousers for the opening day at Troon and this week will be wearing a pair designed by the winner of a competition that attracted more than 2,000 entries.

"I don't feel it puts me off. I don't feel fazed. I don't think it hurts my game -- I want to play better in that company," he said. "I am comfortable being in that company and I can't wait for the Open. It's just a dream to win at St. Andrews, especially with it being the claret jug."

News Index