Richard Bland (golfer)

Richard Bland
Richard Bland
Personal information
Full name	Richard Bland
Nickname	Blandy
Born	3 February 1973; Burton upon Trent, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Sporting nationality	England
Residence	Southampton, England
Partner	Catrin Nystrom
Career
Turned professional	1996
Current tour(s)	European Tour
Former tour(s)	Challenge Tour
Professional wins	2
Highest ranking	75 (14 November 2021)[1]; (as of 12 December 2021)
Number of wins by tour
European Tour	1
Challenge Tour	1
Best results in major championships;
Masters Tournament	DNP
PGA Championship	DNP
U.S. Open	T50: 2021
The Open Championship	T22: 2017

Richard Bland (born 3 February 1973) is an English professional golfer.

Career

Bland was born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. He turned professional in 1996 and reached the final stage of the European Tour's qualifying school in 1997 to gain his card on Europe's second tier Challenge Tour for 1998. In 2001 he won for the first time, at the season ending Challenge Tour Grand Final. The win elevated him in the rankings sufficiently to gain a place on the European Tour for 2002.[2]

During his first season on the European Tour, Bland’s best tournament finish was a tie for 2nd place at the Murphy's Irish Open, losing in a playoff, and ended the year in 73rd place on the Order of Merit. In subsequent seasons, he failed to win enough money to maintain his card on the European Tour several times but regained his playing status each time, via the Challenge Tour rankings in 2004, 2008, and 2019, and via qualifying school in 2007 and 2011.

2021: First victory and continued success

In May 2021, in his 478th start on the European Tour, Bland achieved his first victory at the Betfred British Masters. Only Malcolm MacKenzie, with 509, had played more tournaments before claiming his first win on the tour. At age 48, Bland also became the oldest first-time winner on the European Tour.[3]

In June 2021, Bland played in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California. It was only his second U.S. Open appearance in his career. Ranked 115th in the world, Bland shot 70-67 to be tied for the lead after two rounds.[4] At 48 years old, Bland was the oldest player to ever hold a share of the lead of the U.S. Open after two rounds.[5] He shot 77 and 78 on the weekend to finish in a tie for 50th.[6]

Amateur wins

1994 European Under 21 Championship

Professional wins (2)

European Tour wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	15 May 2021	Betfred British Masters	−13 (68-69-72-66=275)	Playoff	Guido Migliozzi

European Tour playoff record (1–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	2002	Murphy's Irish Open	Niclas Fasth, Darren Fichardt, Søren Hansen	Hansen won with birdie on fourth extra hole Bland eliminated by birdie on second hole
2	2021	Betfred British Masters	Guido Migliozzi	Won with par on first extra hole

Challenge Tour wins (1)

Legend
Grand Finals (1)
Other Challenge Tour (0)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	4 Nov 2001	Challenge Tour Grand Final	−18 (69-68-66-63=266)	5 strokes	Philip Golding

Results in major championships

Results not in chronological order in 2020.

Tournament	1998	1999
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship	CUT
PGA Championship

Tournament	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open										CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship

Tournament	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship								T22
PGA Championship

Tournament	2020	2021
Masters Tournament
PGA Championship
U.S. Open		T50
The Open Championship	NT	T67

Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
NT = No tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic

Results in World Golf Championships

Tournament	2016
Championship
Match Play
Invitational
Champions	T30