Langer to miss Masters after thumb op

Orlando: Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer will be sidelined two months after surgery on his left thumb and will see his streak of 27 straight starts at Augusta National end in April.

Germany`s Langer, who has already posted a victory on the Champions Tour this season, hurt his thumb in a cycling accident. In a statement posted on the US PGA Tour`s website, doctor Andrew Weiland said the procedure, commonly known as "skier`s thumb repair" had been successful. "I`m obviously disappointed that the injury occurred, but especially disappointed with such an important part of my schedule coming up, including the Masters," Langer said in a statement."I do, however, appreciate the fine care of Dr. Weiland and his team, and will work hard to recover to allow me to resume play on the Champions Tour this summer." Langer won the Masters for the first time in 1985, and he returned to Augusta National for the first major of the season as the world No. 1 in the newly created world rankings. He won another green jacket in 1993, but has missed the cut in his last five appearances. Weiland said Langer will have to be in a splint for five weeks. He will then begin rehabilitation and a full recovery is expected. Over the past three years, Langer has won 15 titles on the Champions Tour for players 50 and older, including the Senior US Open and Senior British Open last year.The first senior major of the year for Langer is the Senior PGA Championship at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky, May 26-29. Bureau Report