Google the phrase 'Richard Bland oldest' and you'll discover that the 51 year old from England holds a number of golfing achievements related to his age. The veteran's promotion from the Challenge Tour in 2019 at the age of 46 made him the oldest player to graduate from the Challenge Tour. His 2021 British Masters win made him the oldest first time winner (age 48) on the DP World Tour. Bland also holds the record for oldest 36 hole leader at the U.S. Open, having backed up his British Masters win with a strong showing at the 2021 U.S. Open.
Bland acknowledges that his win at The Belfry "was the start of a snowball effect" that has seen him go on to have a remarkable five years.
Life couldn't be much better for Bland right now. His beloved Southampton are back in the English Premier League. The LIV Golf team he is attached to (The Cleeks) have had a resurgence in 2024 and won their first team event at LIV Houston. Bland himself has picked up two senior major championships this year and is on course to retain his LIV playing privileges for 2025.
Bland is on record as saying his decision to join LIV Golf was the best decision he has ever made. Whilst most players signed on with the breakaway league for a hefty signing on fee, Bland has admitted that he didn't receive a penny for making the switch. The lucrative prize funds on offer were enough of an incentive and Bland knew if he played to his potential, he could make enough money to set himself up for life. And set himself up for life he has. Bland has banked over $12m since joining LIV and by his own admission, has "figured golf out."
But could it have been different? With many criticising LIV for disincentivising players by giving out big contracts to ageing stars, the offer made to Bland appears to have been a smart one and one that has benefited both parties. Bland acknowledges that LIV has ensured he has stayed sharp and that has no doubt played a significant part in his senior success.
Given the lack of financial recompense, Bland perhaps doesn't get the credit he deserves for leaving the relative comfort of the DP World Tour to join LIV. Bland would have been an easy player to cull should he have underperformed on LIV, he's not one of the 'big' names, but it is to his credit that he has finished inside the top 22 on the LIV rankings in each of his first two years.
Often labelled as a journeyman, a player who has enjoyed a long career but never really reached the highest heights within the game, Bland is certainly trying his best to shake off that tag late into his career.
Bland starts as favourite at this week's International Series England event on the Asian Tour, going off as short as 8/1 with some bookmakers. A win at Foxhills CC would make him the oldest first time winner on the Asian Tour and cap an excellent year. You wouldn't bet against it given the year he's having.
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