KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii » Bernhard Langer wasn't due to play his pro-am round for another 2 hours, but he was already hard at work on the practice green.

Long stick in hand, the German sunk putt after putt from 15 feet, making it look automatic as he prepared for today's opening round of the $1.8 million Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.

“;I wish it was (automatic),”; Langer said with an easy smile.

Despite his humble attitude, Langer was the man to beat last year on the Champions Tour. He was not only the rookie and player of the year—the two-time Masters champion was the only golfer to pocket $2 million in earnings.

About the only thing he didn't win was the Schwab Cup, finishing third behind Jay Haas and Fred Funk, the latter who played half the year on a bad knee that forced him to miss this week's first event on the Champions Tour.

Langer won three times in 2008, tying Eduardo Romero for most on tour. He also edged Haas for the scoring average lead. He shot 69.65 in 66 rounds of golf. Haas was second at 69.66 with 68 rounds under his belt. Amazingly, Langer only won three PGA Tour events, but still finished with a little more than $10 million in career earnings.

Now, he's setting his sights on the senior circuit, where his golf game was reborn in his first full season on tour. Haas said yesterday that few people out here prepare for an event harder than Langer, who is the only German in the World Golf Hall of Fame. He wanted to do well in 2008 and hopes 2009 is just as kind.

“;My goals were to win tournaments and to establish myself as one of the leading players out here,”; Langer said. “;Those were my main goals, to do well on the money list and to do well on the Schwab Cup standings. And to win a few times because winning is what it's all about. Once you've won before, you want to win again. And there's nothing like winning.”;

Langer, who now calls Florida home, finished tied for third with Haas here last year at 17-under 199. Funk won with a 195, but with him out of the field this week, Langer's main competitors are likely to be Haas and Allen Doyle. There are only four past winners in the field, giving Langer a clear shot at the $315,000 first prize.

But considering how well Langer did on the Champions Tour in 2008, what can he do for an encore?

“;Player of the year is always a fantastic achievement because you're voted by the players, your colleagues,”; Langer said. “;It's not somebody in the media. It's by the guys you're inside the ropes with all year long, (the ones) you're competing against.

“;And if they vote for you to be player of the year, it means a lot. I was thrilled to get that and I know there were two or three other guys who would have deserved it, too. It's going to be hard to repeat, but that's one of my goals, to do it again.”;

These days, Langer couldn't be happier to be a competitive golfer once again. Reacquainting himself with old friends is another plus of playing with those 50 and older.

  “;We've known each other for a long time, most of us,”; Langer said. “;We're in the same stage of life. Many of us are not here to prove anything, but that doesn't mean we're not competitive. We are here because we are competitive. That's what it boils down to.

“;The guys who haven't done well in their careers, they're not going to be out here. And the guys who are not competitive will not be out here. It's a strange combination because we are very friendly and known each other for a long time, there's a great atmosphere. We treat each other fantastically, the environment is super.

“;But once we're on the golf course, we try to beat each other's brains.”;