While many golfers were shaking hands and sharing drinks with Donald Trump at his Miami resort last month, Richard Bland chose something much simpler — an early night.
He had been invited to the high-profile dinner with several LIV Golf players, but he passed on it without hesitation.
“I’d had a big dinner the night before,” Bland said casually. “Didn’t fancy two late nights in a row. I’m sure I wasn’t missed.” Dry, understated, and totally in character.
But don’t let his low-key personality fool you — at 52, Bland is riding one of the most unique and inspiring waves in modern golf.
From Journeyman to Late-Blooming Star
Bland’s path through the sport has been anything but typical.
It took him a staggering 478 starts and 25 years to finally notch a win on th
e DP World Tour. That victory, at age 48, could have been the feel-good climax of his story. But it turns out, it was just the start of his next chapter.
He joined LIV Golf in 2022 — and unlike many of his fellow players, Bland didn’t get a signing bonus.
Yet he’s proven his place, finishing no lower than 24th in the standings each season since.
And in the senior circuit? He’s been a force, winning the first two major tournaments he played in.
A Special Return to the PGA Championship
This week, Bland tees it up at Quail Hollow for the US PGA Championship — his first major appearance in almost two years.
He’s there thanks to his win at the Senior PGA Championship in May 2024. And despite his age, he’s still chasing improvement.
“Most guys at 52 are winding it down,” Bland said.
“But I seem to be doing things a bit differently.”
His prep? A round with Southampton football legend Matt Le Tissier at Stoneham Golf Club, straight after traveling from LIV events in Korea and Mexico.
They’re old mates and frequent golf opponents. “We put £10 or £20 on it each time,” Bland grinned.
“He’s a proper player. Taken a bit off me over the years.”
Golf as a Personal Mission
There’s a deeper layer to Bland’s drive — family.
His older brother Heath was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2023, and Richard found motivation in the challenge.
“I remember when he was in a coma years ago, I didn’t play well because my head was elsewhere,” he recalled.
“So this time, I wanted to do better — give him something to smile about, even just a little.”
Thankfully, Heath is now in remission, and Bland’s most successful stretch as a golfer came during that tough personal chapter. The emotional fuel clearly worked.
LIV Golf Gave Him the Career He Needed
Bland is clear about why he joined LIV: financial security. At nearly 50, it made sense.
“It was a risk,” he admitted. “Could have all ended after one year.
But I backed myself, and it’s worked out.”
In just over three years, he’s made £12.5 million — almost double what he earned in the previous 25 years combined.
For a player who never quite reached the earnings level of stars like Westwood or Garcia, the decision changed his future.
“Best decision I ever made,” he said plainly.
Shut Out by Golf’s Establishment
Still, LIV’s reputation hasn’t come without costs.
Bland, despite his wins in senior majors, remains locked out of the PGA Tour Champions and other key events.
“They didn’t give me the exemptions I earned last year,” he said with frustration.
“It’s short-sighted. LIV hasn’t taken players from the Champions Tour.
So why not let guys like me, Westwood, Stenson, or Garcia compete?”
He suspects they’re banking on Tiger Woods returning and bringing ratings.
“But cutting off players like us? That’s just hurting their own product.”
Hope for the Future with a Possible PIF-DP World Deal
The politics of golf are still a mess, but Bland sees hope.
While the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund continue to negotiate, there are whispers that the PIF could strike a separate deal with the DP World Tour.
“I think something’s brewing there,” he said. “And I really hope it happens.
It would give DP World more strength, better finances, and stop them from losing talent to the PGA.”
Of course, officials deny any break from their alliance with the PGA Tour — but Bland seems convinced a shake-up is possible.
Richard Bland’s Story Isn’t Over Yet
If his career has taught us anything, it’s this — Richard Bland has never followed the expected path. And at 52, he’s still finding ways to evolve, compete, and surprise.
His life in golf has been full of twists, resilience, and some bold choices.
But as he heads into the PGA Championship once again, one thing is clear: Richard Bland isn’t done rewriting the script.