"Cheater"; "Tired of BS" - Fans call out Bernhard Langer for alleged foul play at the PNC Championship

Fans on social media allegedly accused Bernhard Langer of cheating at the 2024 PNC Championship. The German golfer and his son Jason emerged victorious at the recently concluded competition on Sunday, December 22.

Team Langer and Team Woods tied for the lead in the game after 36 holes and then headed for a playoff, where the former registered the win. Nuclr Golf shared a video of Bernhard Langer taking his shot in the sudden-death playoff, which secured his team's victory in the game, writing:

"Bernhard Langer and his son Jason defeat the Woods family in a sudden death playoff at the PNC Championship!"

However, fans in the comment section accused Langer of anchoring his putter during the game.

"So, you can’t see he’s anchoring? Seriously? So tired of this BS!" a fan wrote.

"Cheating! Anchored putter," another fan added.

Several other fans allegedly accused the professional golfer of violating the rules during the match.

"Cheater tee box and cheater putter gets it done," one more wrote.

"Looked like anchoring to me!" a fan jotted.

Here are more fans reactions:

Fans' reaction (Image via X/@NUCLRGOLF)

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What is anchoring in golf that Bernhard Langer is accused of at the 2024 PNC Championship?

Rule 10.1 of the USGA deals with the term anchoring in golf. As per the rule, players are not allowed to touch their putter grip on their bodies. They must take the shot while ensuring the putter grip only touches their forearm and remains away from the chest and stomach.

In short, while taking their shot, the putter grip can touch the area below the elbow joint and the wrist, but not the torso. Violating this rule can grant a two-shot penalty to players in stroke play format, and in match play, they would lose the hole.

"In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either: Directly, by holding the club or a gripping hand against any part of the body (except that the player may hold the club or a gripping hand against a hand or forearm), or Indirectly, through use of an “anchor point,” by holding a forearm against any part of the body to use a gripping hand as a stable point around which the other hand may swing the club," the rule says (as per USGA).

Bernhard Langer competed in the game with his son Jason, and they shot two rounds of 59 and 57 to tie for the lead with Tiger Woods and Charlie. In the playoff, Team Woods made a birdie, while Team Langer recorded an eagle on the par-5 hole and won the match.

Notably, it's the second time in a row Bernhard Langer and Jason won the PNC Championship. Last year also, they registered a victory at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.

All-in-all, it's the sixth PNC Championship title for Bernhard Langer. He won two times while playing with Stefan Langer (2005 and 2006) and four times while playing with Jason Langer (2014, 2019, 2023, and 2024).