Bernhard Langer and his son Jason may have secured their sixth PNC Championship win by defeating Tiger Woods and his son Charlie in a playoff, but the victory angered golf fans after the two-time Masters Champion took advantage of the competition’s tee rules by age.

While Team Langer celebrated their win, critics turned the spotlight on the tournament’s rules, claiming they gave the 67-year-old Langer an unfair advantage. Instead of universal praise for the achievement, fans zeroed in on Langer’s use of tees placed significantly closer to the hole than the field.

The competition came down to the wire after both teams tied at a record-low 28-under par across 36 holes. The playoff was decided on the first hole, where Bernhard drained an eagle putt to seal the victory.

“For me personally, it just makes me focus even more so,” said Langer when asked about not being a fan favorite. “I seem to enjoy that challenge to be the underdog or to play in tough circumstances. It just helps me to zero in even more.”

“The crowd was more than anything I’ve ever played in front of for sure,” he continued.”I’m not that competitive these days. I play a couple amateur events a year. But definitely today was not something that I am used to.”

Under the tournament’s format, Langer was permitted to tee off from a distance over 700 yards shorter than Tiger and even closer than 15-year-old Charlie Woods. The rule was initially designed to level the playing field for senior competitors but has drawn criticism from fans and the media, especially given Langer’s driving abilities on the PGA Tour Champions, where he averaged 275.5 yards off the tee this season.

Social media was furious as one golf fan on X wrote: “Bernhard Langer is cheating with an anchored putter and playing from the women’s tees. There’s a reason they’ve won the PNC Championship so many times. Absolute disgrace.”

Another added: “I’m here for all the Bernhard Langer slander for playing the up-up tees after being the most successful Champions Tour golfer ever. I couldn’t agree more.” Others pointed out the clear imbalance, with another fan commenting: “Bernhard Langer should never be off tees further forward than a 15-year-old. Terrible decision to allow that.” 

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Langer’s putting technique was also called into question for its long accused technique also appearing to break the rules. Accusations of anchoring occurred on each putt he made. Anchoring is a banned procedure where a golfer’s club or grip is secured against their body during a stroke.

Fans took the opportunity to re-hash older criticisms of his putting style in his youth, with some suggesting that it allowed a prohibited edge. Though anchoring was outlawed by the USGA and R&A in 2016, Langer was off the hook with enough space between his club and chest.

Langer built a golf career consisting of 45 PGA Tour Champions wins and two Masters titles in 1985 and 1993. His third PGA Tour win came during the 1985 Sea Pines Heritage tournament, and he’s earned over $48 million in prize money throughout his career.