Richard Bland arrived at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship during his month-long break from the LIV Golf schedule, and won it.
The Englishman fired 63 in the last round at Harbour Shores to beat Australia’s Richard Green by three shots, winning his first senior major in his first senior event and just his second professional win at the age of 51.
Bypassing the likes of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Steve Stricker and Stewart Cink, Bland became the third Englishman to win the Senior PGA and secure a spot for the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
Bland was playing for his brother Heath who he revealed was recently diagnosed with lung cancer. He held back the tears during his victory speech as again, Bland tasted more success during what is meant to be the swansong of his career.
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In 2021, Bland won the Betfred British Masters in a playoff at the Belfry on the 478th start of his DP World Tour career. He became the oldest first-time winner on the circuit at the age of 48, and this provided a platform for Bland to make his second US Open appearance in the same year and play in the WGC Match Play, a tournament that pitted the top 64 players in the world against each other.
A year later, Bland accepted an offer to join LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed entity that has emerged as a direct rival to the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour. He plays for Cleeks GC and although he hasn’t won an event yet, Bland has performed consistently and is placed in the top half of the 54-man table.
Bland started the final round on Sunday one shot behind Els and lefty Greg Chalmers in Michigan, but he got to work with six birdies on the front nine. He eagled the par-5 15th hole, but he was forced to endure a weather delay with three holes left.
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The man from Southampton held on for a comfortable win and will next play in the LIV Golf League in Houston at the start of June.
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