SOTOGRANDE, SPAIN — A chat with Richard Bland at Real Club Valderrama on Wednesday, before to LIV Golf Andalucía, disclosed a surprising turn in one of the endearing tales of professional golf.
Fans are referring to it as “Blandemonium,” which has helped clear the palate after a contentious three years in professional golf. Fans were first drawn to Bland in 2021 when, at 48, he became the oldest golfer to win a DP World Tour event at the British Masters and to lead a U.S. Open through two rounds at Torrey Pines.
Players from the DP World Tour and LIV Golf are putting their civility to the test in Dubai.
Currently 51 years old and participating on LIV Golf, he’s won back-to-back Senior PGA Championships and Senior U.S. Opens while doing well on LIV against notable winners and players in their 20s and 30s.
For golf fans, a pro who continued to play his best golf far into his 50s and gave all of his success to his brother Heath—who is battling cancer—has been moving and inspirational.
“At the former Ryder Cup venue of Valderrama, pros don’t typically win their first DP World tournament in their 478th start,” Bland said to Golf Digest. “I’ve received numerous messages [text and social media direct messages] stating that many individuals, on whatever route they were on, have been inspired by my tale. Some individuals commented, “I’m going to push through it,” after seeing me play despite their difficulties.
Following Bland’s thrilling playoff victory at Newport Country Club earlier this month, there was speculation that Bland would have a chance to win the Senior PGA, Senior U.S. Open, and Senior Open Championship, which some on social media termed the “Bland Slam.”
Richard Bland participates in the Nashville LIV Golf event’s second round.
But that’s also where the tale becomes convoluted.
The Bland Slam is not going to happen. Bland is one of numerous professionals on the DP World Tour who have not paid the penalty owed to the European circuit, which accumulated as a result of their participation in LIV Golf events that clashed with DP World events. “LIV didn’t pay my fines, and I didn’t see the need because I was never going to return to the DP World Tour,” Bland stated.
The DP World Tour and the R&A co-run the Senior Open Championship, and they will stick to their policy of preventing DP World Tour players who have competed on LIV and have unpaid fines from teeing off in competitions until those fines are settled. Bland is included in that.
Patrick Reed and Thomas Pieters, two golfers who competed in last week’s BMW International Open in Munich and placed in the top 13, are among those who have paid all penalty.
Fining LIV players has been a continuous practice for the DP World Tour, with the severity of the penalties depending on whether or not each LIV event takes place in the same area and time zone as a DP World leg. When a LIV event takes place in conjunction with a major DP World Tour event, like the Rolex Series, the fines are greater.
Bland, however, used the senior links major’s open status as justification for being allowed to play despite the penalty.
“This is an open event, not a closed event,” the R&A had to tell the DP World Tour, according to Bland.
However, considering that LIV Golf U.K. and the Senior Open Championship are playing at the JCB course in the Midlands, it’s a moot point.
“I don’t know if I could play in a tournament with a release from LIV Golf; my priorities are there.” I would need to give it some thought,” he remarked.
Even yet, Bland can’t help but hope for a third senior major victory, especially as it will take place at Carnoustie on July 25–28. “It’s unfortunate, as Carnoustie is among my all-time favourite courses,” he remarked. “I would actually really fancy my chances because I played the Dunhill Links Championship there many times.”
Bland will concentrate on golf outside of the majors instead. That will almost definitely be on LIV Golf, as Bland’s LIV Golf membership prevented him from receiving the one-year exemption on the PGA Tour Champions that is granted to senior major winners. All who signed up with LIV are off limits from the PGA Tour.
With four tournaments left in the individual season, Bland, who plays for the Cleeks GC team captained by two-time major winner Martin Kaymer, is ranked 25th on LIV’s individual points standings. The top 24 receive automatic invitations to return to LIV for the upcoming season. Players whose contracts are about to expire and who finish between 25 and 44 are free agents.
“As it stands, I need to finish in the top 24. Cleeks has asked that I be re-signed during the transfer window, but we haven’t had the full green light as of yet,” he stated. “I think I have a decent chance of playing for the Cleeks next year, but I still need to play well.”
Undoubtedly, fans would like to see that because nobody likes to see a wonderful story come to an end.
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