Despite a successful pro golf career and the appearances of everything going right, in 1985 Bernhard Langer felt a void that he couldn’t explain.

“I had just won the Masters, I’m driving to Hilton Head with my beautiful young wife, and I felt empty,” Langer said in a Sports Illustrated story. “I don’t know why.”

The April 5 magazine story by Michael Bamberger recounts Langer’s conversion to Christianity shortly after that drive.

“In Hilton Head, I saw Bobby Clampett,” Langer said, “and he asked me if I wanted to attend the Wednesday night (golf) tour Bible study group, and that’s where I met Larry Moody (the leader of the group). Larry said I needed to be reborn if I wanted eternal life. He said it was in John 3:3. I told him, ‘I’ve been going to the Catholic Church all my life. I’ve been an altar boy. Either your Bible is different from mine, or the Catholic Church is wrong.’ Larry said, ‘Don’t believe me because I say it. Read it for yourself.’ I read the verse, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.'”

That was the beginning of Langer’s journey to faith in Christ. His wife Vikki also became a Christian not long after that. Though he had won the Masters in 1985, Langer’s 1993 Masters win is more special to him “because I won as a Christian.”

Langer says his devotion to Christ informs every area of his life. The Langers home school their children and have family devotions together every morning. Bamberger asked Langer what he would say to Tiger Woods if he had the opportunity.

“I would challenge Tiger to look into the Christian faith,” Langer said. “I don’t know if Buddha will forgive him his sins. I know Jesus will.” >