Richard Heathcote
By Ryan Herrington
There had to be days when Richard Bland had given up hope. The 48-year-old Englishman tried and tried and tried some more to win a European Tour event, but never managed to do it. Until, finally, he did on Saturday at the British Masters, shooting a closing 66 at The Belfry to get into a playoff with Guido Migliozzi, then winning with a par on the first extra hole.
Suffice it to, Bland’s reaction to winning for the first time in 478 starts was enough to make the most cynical person need to pull out a Kleenex.
First was the birdie putt on the 72nd hole to get him into the clubhouse at 13 under:
WOW. RICHARD BLAND!#BetfredBritishMasters pic.twitter.com/PLxqgBQI1D
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 15, 2021
Then there’s the reaction after capping his par on the first extra hole to close out the win:
With his coach interviewing him, Bland reacts to the best day of his career ?#BetfredBritishMasters pic.twitter.com/cPLQ7zPoyP
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 15, 2021
And we truly mean it when we say that even the most cynical people were applauding Bland’s accomplishment. How do we know this? Because social media, a waste land for cynics, was almost universally overjoyed for Bland and his feat. Here’s a sampling of the outpouring of congratulations that Bland received on Twitter from fellow tour pros as well as others watching the action:
Today I saw something that inspired me and reminded me of why golf is the greatest game. Richard Bland who hadn’t won in his previous 478 professional starts wins the #britishmasters in a playoff on the @europeantour. Congrats @blandy73 on the first and wishing you many more!
— fredcouplesgolf (@fredcouplesgolf) May 15, 2021
.@blandy73 So happy to see that flame still burns. Hard work pays off and you’ve earn’t every piece of this victory. Enjoy it ????? https://t.co/XwhjclMT4d
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) May 15, 2021
Richard Bland won the British Masters today. At the age of 48. And for the first time in 478 European Tour events. Sport at its best folks.
— John Huggan (@johnhuggan) May 15, 2021
I understand why people love the top players in the world.
But if you can’t watch Richard Bland call his family and think about the grind he and his family have been through, thinking this moment might never happen and love every second of it, I can’t help you.— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) May 15, 2021
So happy for you @blandy73 – golf is a such a grind, there are so many ups and downs, but to keep persevering and to finally break through for that 1st European Tour win must feel bloody amazing. Congrats champ ?
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) May 15, 2021
Congratulations to @blandy73 terrific golfing. ????♂️?
— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) May 15, 2021
Perseverance.
Richard Bland won on the @EuropeanTour today for the first time in 478 starts. pic.twitter.com/XAXMqO25vW
— GOLFTV (@GOLFTV) May 15, 2021
Indeed, the comments from Bland’s peers are priceless. Save for family and friends, there is nobody who can appreciate what it must have been like for Bland to play more than 20 years and still be searching for a first tour win, only to breakthrough, than fellow tour pros.