Bernhard Langer News

Especially when 25,000 fans are expected to attend the June 17-23 Encompass Championship golf tournament in Glenview at North Shore Country Club, 1340 Glenview Road.

Tour pros were vocal when the anchored putting ban was proposed in December. When the ban became official Tuesday morning, players didn't have quite as much to say, but some golfers still voiced their support, displeasure and confusion over the ruling.

The event is one of the 'majors' of the Champions Tour and has a history dating back to 1937 when first played at the Augusta National G.C. Most of the greats of the game and the Seniors / Champions Tour have been winners of the event in its long history, Sam Snead its most prolific winner with six victories.

Rocco Mediate, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour, is one of at least three Champions Tour rookies to commit to playing in the $2.2 million Regions Tradition June 5-9 at Shoal Creek.

He has played in the past two U.S. Opens at Oakmont Country Club, most recently in 2007.

Some observers claim the absence of one of the big four titles and his failure to win a Tour event in the United States should bar him from Hall of Fame status.

Esteban Toledo celebrated Cinco de Mayo by becoming the first Mexican winner in Champions Tour history, beating Mike Goodes with a par on the third hole of a playoff Sunday in the Insperity Championship.

Larry Nelson , the first Insperity Championship winner, will participate Friday morning in what figures to be a moving start to the tournament, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Langer has won twice this season and he's the tour points leader going into the first round of the Insperity Championship at The Woodlands Country Club's TPC course Friday.

The waiting is almost over with Warren Gatland set to unveil his British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia on Tuesday.

Chapman and Blake were 17 under. The teams of Bernhard Langer-Tom Lehman, Brad Faxon-Jeff Sluman, Scott Hoch-Jim Gallagher Jr., Craig Stadler-Kirk Triplett and Brad Faxon-Jeff Sluman were tied for second.

Brad Faxon and Jeff Sluman combined for a 10- under 62 on Friday, which gave them a 1-stroke lead after the opening round of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf.