Langer defends Open title at Inverness

TOLEDO, Ohio: Bernhard Langer is back, and itching for a repeat.
After missing most of the past few months with a thumb injury, last year’s top player among the over-50 set is out to defend his title at the 32nd US Senior Open, which starts Thursday.

Updated 28 July 2011 09:27

RUSTY MILLER | AP

July 28, 2011 09:27

The field of 156 international players will be tested by the long and grueling Inverness Club, site of some of the game’s most historic moments.

The field also includes Russ Cochran, who won last week’s Senior British Open and hopes to duplicate Langer’s back-to-back major titles in consecutive weeks in 2010.

Bob Tway, who holed out on the 72nd green to win the PGA Championship at Inverness in 1986, is on hand. So is John Cook, with three Champions Tour wins this year.