Richard Bland has only been playing senior tournaments for a short time, but he’s already making history. Despite not often participating in four-day events, he faced an extended five-day U.S. Senior Open and came out victorious.
The U.S. Senior Open at Newport Country Club, Rhode Island, was certainly eventful. Weather delays forced the final eight holes to extend into Monday. Bland was three strokes behind Hiroyuki Fujita when play resumed but quickly made up for lost ground. After an intense round, Bland took the lead with a birdie at the 15th hole, only to lose it at the 18th. The showdown continued into a sudden-death playoff after they tied in a two-hole aggregate playoff.
In the end, it was Bland’s second straight senior major title, achieved in just his second PGA Tour Champions start. Previously, Bland had also won the Senior PGA Championship in May with an impressive final round. Though he was denied PGA Tour Champions status due to his LIV affiliation, his win earned him an exemption to the U.S. Senior Open.
Reflecting on his success, Bland attributed much of his improvement to competing in LIV Golf tournaments. ‘I’m a way better golfer than I was back then,’ Bland said, crediting the level of competition in LIV Golf. He further emphasized that going head-to-head with top talents like Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Brooks Koepka had elevated his performance.
The final round was filled with drama. Sunday’s play was halted due to storms, leaving Bland still chasing Fujita. When play resumed, Fujita struggled with three bogeys in five holes, opening the door for Bland. His birdies on the 14th and 15th holes finally put him ahead. The climax came on the 18th hole, where Bland thought he had nailed a perfect drive, only for the wind to push his ball into a cross bunker. Despite this setback, he managed to make a critical eight-foot putt for bogey, staying in the game as Fujita forced a playoff with a solid par finish.
In the playoff, both competitors made pars on the 10th and 18th holes, leading to a second sudden-death round. This time, Bland’s precise bunker shot proved decisive. His shot one-hopped against the flagstick, landing inches from the hole, sealing his victory. Bland shared a moment of reflection afterward: ‘When everything’s on the line, you’ve always got to think that he’s going to hole that putt,’ he said.
The win at Newport also secured Bland a spot in the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont. As for his future plans, it remains to be seen whether Bland will pursue a third straight senior major at the Senior Open Championship or participate in LIV Golf’s UK event that same weekend.
With two major wins in just two senior starts, Richard Bland’s transition into senior golf is nothing short of remarkable. His performance at the U.S. Senior Open not only demonstrates his skill but also highlights how competing at the highest levels can elevate a player’s game.
