Playing on LIV Tour 'brings out the best' in Bland
This week, Richard Bland will defend his Senior PGA Championship title
- Published
Veteran British golfer Richard Bland says that playing on the LIV Tour "brings out the best" in him.
The 52-year-old from Southampton ed LIV in 2022 for their very first event in London - and, in his first three full seasons, has secured top-24 finishes in the individual standings every time he has played.
After turning professional in 1996, it took Bland 25 years and 478 tournaments on the European Tour to win his first championship - the 2021 British Masters.
Last week, Bland made the cut at the second major of the year, the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, finishing tied for 37th place with a final score of one over par.
"My game has definitely improved since ing the LIV Tour - it had to if I'm going to compete," he told BBC South Today.
"When you compete with Bryson (DeChambeau), Brooks (Koepka) and Jon Rahm week in, week out, I have to bring my best if I have any chance of competing.
"Someone like Jon last week (at the PGA Championship) proved he is a top-five player in the world, so is Bryson, and to be able to go up against those guys 14 times a year will only enhance my game."
Bland is the second oldest golfer in the LIV Golf League behind Phil Mickelson, and this year made headlines with an impressive albatross at LIV Mexico., external
The lucrative LIV Tour was launched three years ago and fractured men's professional golf by g high-profile players from America's previously-dominant PGA Tour including Rahm, Dustin Johnson, DeChambeau, Cameron Smith and Koepka.
LIV Golf is backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) - an entity controlled by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud - which is also the majority owner of Premier League football club Newcastle United.
Bryson DeChambeau (L) and Richard Bland (R) were grouped together for the third round of last week's US PGA Championship
But for now, Bland's attention will be away from the LIV Tour as he looks to defend his Senior PGA title at Congressional Country Club in Maryland.
Last year, he won the tournament on his senior major debut, closing with an eight-under final round of 63 for a three-shot victory at Harbor Shores.
It was his first triumph since that British Masters win back in 2021.
"My game is in pretty good shape right now," he said.
"If I play the golf I know I can play, I am confident I can be in the hunt come Sunday [but] there are a lot of legends out here that can still play to a very high level.
"I'm under no illusions that I'll just turn up and take the trophy - I'll have to play some of my stronger golf just to stand a chance and hopefully I can do that.
"Whatever happens this week it's been an honour and privilege to be champion and hopefully that can continue."
Last year, when he won the Senior PGA title, Bland dedicated the victory to his brother Heath, who had been diagnosed with cancer.
On Instagram, external the two posed for a photo with the trophy once Bland had returned home, sharing a message that the cup was with its "rightful owner".
"His treatment has finished now and hopefully touch wood he will be fine," Bland added.
"He has a battle every day - compared to what he had to go through, me hitting a white golf ball round a course means nothing.
"We all get frustrated because we care but it puts things into perspective that one poor shot is not life and death. I try to keep that close to myself and it brings me back to normality.
"But I want to play well to give my family something to be positive about. If I do that then I have done my job."