The latter victory—which Bland won in a playoff, joining golf legends like Bernhard Langer, Padraig Harrington and Jim Furyk as recent winners—was the highwater mark of the Englishman’s long, winding career. But now, with the 2025 U.S. Senior Open set to begin this week, Bland is MIA … for a truly head-scratching reason.

Here’s what he had to say about his decision on Tuesday.

https://twitter.com/Cleeks_GolfClub/status/1937620325208060242

RELATED: Watch Jon Rahm nail Phil Mickelson with rangefinder-to-meters prank … again

Skipping the chance to defend a major title at the age of 52 in order to finish top-24 in the LIV season standings a bold move, Cotton. So bold, that many golf fans began speculating that Bland is contractually obligated to play LIV Golf Dallas this weekend, instead of defending the biggest title of his career. Whether or not that’s true is a question for the agents and lawyers, but if we take Bland at his word, he’s simply committed to being the best Cleek he can be this season.

It could also have something to do with the fact that Cam Davis, last year’s LIV Dallas winner, reportedly took home $1.6 million while the U.S. Senior Open winner’s purse will be $720,000 for the eighth year running. That’s the cynical view, but perhaps Bland—like Tom Brady before him—is taking a discount to help build an unstoppable LIV dynasty. As the old saying goes, there is no “I” in Cleeks.

RELATED: Here’s the prize money payout for each golfer at the 2025 LIV Golf Dallas event

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Richard Bland’s bank account is now $10,000 lighter. The Englishman was slapped with a one-stroke slow-play penalty Friday at the LIV Golf event in Chicago after exceeding the allotted 40 seconds that he has to play a shot.

He was also given a slow-play penalty last year at the LIV Golf event at Valderrama.

Bland, 51, was grouped with Charl Schwartzel and Patrick Reed and Bolingbrook Golf Club and they were first warned on their fifth holes of the day (No. 10) that they were out of position. Two holes later, according to a release by LIV Golf, they were further out of position.

Explanation of one-stroke penalty assessed to Richard Bland in Friday's first round of #LIVGolf Chicago pic.twitter.com/FgutM7feXv

— LIV Golf Communications (@LIVGolfComms) September 13, 2024

On the 12th hole, Bland’s second shot was deemed to have been longer that the policy allows and was immediately notified by an official. He was assessed a one-stroke penalty and fined $10,000. Although the penalty happened on the 12th hole, it somehow was added to his score on the par-5 14th hole, according to the LIV release.

Bland shot one-over 71 and is tied for 21st place. Brooks Koepka made eight birdies and shot eight-under 62 to lead Paul Casey by four shots. Joaquin Niemann leads Jon Rahm by one shot in the season-long individual race, which is worth $18 million. Whichever player finishes higher at the end of the week will win.

The penalty for Bland is one of several this year on the LIV Golf circuit. Niemann was assessed a two-shot penalty back in February after playing the ball from a wrong place and Adrian Meronk was handed a slow-play penalty in March that ultimately cost him $240,000 in earnings.

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In an outspoken press conference on the eve of the Asian Tour’s International Series – England tournament at the Foxhills Country Club just outside London, Bland, recent winner of the Senior PGA Championship and U.S. Senior Open, left no doubt as to the depth and extent of his feelings.

In particular, Bland, who famously recorded the first win of his then uneventful European/DP World Tour career at the 478th attempt before defecting to LIV Golf, took aim at the annual agreement that sees the top 10 players on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai points list who don’t already own PGA Tour cards gain exemption for the following season across the Atlantic.

“I think getting into bed with the Americans was completely the wrong idea,” said Bland to Golf Digest, minutes after his initial outburst. “Does anyone honestly think [PGA Tour commissioner] Jay Monahan cares about the DP World Tour? No, he doesn’t. For him that ’10 player’ deal was all about how he could get the best DP World Tour players competing on the PGA Tour. They [the PGA Tour] don’t care about the DP World Tour. They never have.”

Bland wasn’t finished there either. Along with a significant number of those who remain members of the DP World Tour, the 51-year-old Englishman takes the view that Pelley should have gone with the “Saudi option” and bet on a DP World Tour future that involved a proposed financial agreement with the oil-rich Middle East nation’s Public Investment Fund, which has estimated assets of $925 billion, rather than the eventual partnership with the PGA Tour.

“Let’s face it, anyone who knows anything about world golf knows that the DP World Tour made the wrong decision three, four years ago when they had the opportunity to go with the Saudis,” Bland said. “I think most of the players have realised that.”

Because of Bland’s defection to LIV Golf, he is ineligible to play on the PGA Tour or the PGA Tour Champions, despite the fact he would have earned a tour card based on his victories at two of this year’s senior majors.

Earlier, Bland had been equally forthright when the recent changes to the European Ryder Cup qualifying system were brought to his attention. Calling the emphasis on performances in major championships (where 5,000 points will be available) and elite PGA Tour events (3,000 points), “just like another nail in the coffin of the DP World Tour,” he was again off and running.

“It’s sad,” Bland said. “I understand that the strength plays in America, but this just basically says that no one playing full-time DP World can play in the Ryder Cup. You can’t make it. Obviously, the World Rankings have gone that way and now the Ryder Cup has gone that way.”

(For the record, 2,000 points will be available at DP World Tour Rolex events and regular PGA Tour events; 1500 at DP World Tour “back nine” events and 1,000 at DP World Tour global events and PGA Tour opposite events.)

For the 2025 European team, the top six points earners will qualify to play at Bethpage, with Luke Donald then having six picks to round out the squad.

Even then, he wasn’t finished. Next on the Bland hit-list was the Presidents Cup, specifically the omission of New Zealander Ryan Fox (then not a PGA Tour member) from the 2022 International team.

“When you get someone like Foxy who was second on the DP World Tour two years ago, and he can’t play,” said Bland. “I mean, really? It seems like it’s just a PGA Tour event. And the Ryder Cup is now just a PGA Tour event. It doesn’t say much for the guys that are up-and-coming in the game. You’ve only got to look at the World Rankings, how many guys from the DP World Tour are in the top 100 in the world? Maybe two? So yeah, I think this is a sad day for the DP World Tour, if I’m being honest.”

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Now aged 51, the Cleeks GC player was a pivotal part of his team’s success in claiming their hard earned silverware at LIV Golf Houston in May, a victory that had been knocking on the door prior.

“It was great to get the first win for the team at Houston a few weeks ago now,” said the Englishman. “We run at it in a close second in Singapore, so to back it up with a win was great.”

The putt that made Richard Bland a Senior PGA Champion! #SrPGAChamp pic.twitter.com/hhSniYuxAa

— Senior PGA Champ (@seniorpgachamp) May 26, 2024

Bland came into the event at Golf Club of Houston off the back of his maiden major triumph at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. A win that Bland was both delighted for but at the same time not neglecting the hard work his team mates of Martin Kaymer, Adrian Meronk and Kalle Samooja had put in for their final round heroics in Houston.

“The win at Harbor Shores was great, but that’s all forgotten about now. In golf as you know, it gets forgotten pretty quick once you are into the next week, it’s all focus on that.”

All that focus seemed to pay off!

What a performance on Championship Sunday

The @Cleeks_GC are your team champions of LIV Golf Houston #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/TazU3vaeqb

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) June 9, 2024

“Obviously I’m super proud of what happened a few weeks ago, but I’m also super proud of these guys and there is definitely more to come from us.”

Blandy will continue to ride the crest of a wave as he hits his “home event” on the 2024 LIV Golf schedule, along with the U.S. Senior Open in his back pocket, as tournament 11 is situated on UK soil at the newly appointed JCB Golf and Country Club, a stone’s throw from the birthplace of Bland.

“I was born up there, then we moved down to Southampton when I was two or three years old. If anyone asks where I’m from now I say Southampton, but Burton-on-Trent is on my passport though.

“But it still makes it extra special. Whenever you play in front of your home crowd it’s always a little bit more special. When I used to play DP World Tour events, we always used to get amazing support and we have had that on LIV Golf at Centurion Club, so I’m sure it’s going to be the same at the JCB.”

The founder of JCB, once famously said that there was “No place for second best”, and with that, a masterpiece was created!

Championship golf, exclusive stays, warm hospitality and a lifetime of unforgettable experiences. pic.twitter.com/O4E7DLXmBv

— JCB Golf & Country Club (@JCBGolfCC) May 25, 2024

Even though the JCB maybe a new golf course, in the grand scheme of things, it’s an ultra-exclusive venue that comes with an abundance of firepower.

Depending on the weather, it might not be playing the longest, but it’s all about the quadrants on the greens because of the undulations. If you can control your golf ball and get it into the right spot on the green you will be able to give yourself a birdie chance. If you miss those spots, and the speed of the greens is up, it will make it tricky, so approach play is a premium.

Main Image: Ryan Lochhead/PGA of America/Getty Images

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Kaymer, though, insisted that Bland go first.

“He was pushing me out the door,” Bland said.

With good reason. Members of the onsite LIV Golf Andalucia staff, as well as club personnel at Real Club Valderrama, were waiting for Bland just outside the clubhouse for a surprise celebration of his back-to-back senior major victories. He was greeted with Blandy head cutouts, thundersticks, poster boards with slogans (“BLANDEMONIUM ON THE BLANDEPODIUM”) and was gifted a bottle of 2013 Dom Pérignon champagne.

It was a brief but fitting tribute for the 51-year-old Englishman, who is enjoying an impressive run of success the last two months with his Senior PGA Championship and U.S. Senior Open titles, along with the Cleeks’ first-ever team victory at LIV Golf Houston.

No wonder Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” was being piped in via a nearby loudspeaker as he high-fived the staff.

“One thing about LIV, no matter what you do, they make it very special if you do something outside of LIV,” Bland said. “That’s why I love being out here.”

Following his U.S. Senior Open win on the fourth playoff hole at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island, Bland took some much-needed downtime with his family before travelling to Spain for this week’s tournament. He also fulfilled his promise to older brother Heath by giving him the replica of the Senior PGA trophy that the PGA of America had sent him. Bland dedicated his win at Harbor Shores in Michigan to his brother, who is battling cancer.

“It was special to be able to give him that,” Bland said. “I’m sure whenever he looks at it, he’ll look at it with pride. If that’s the case, then I’m a happy man.”

After Bland followed with his victory at the U.S. Senior Open, he said he would keep that second trophy for himself. “The U.S. Open, this one’s mine,” he noted with a smile.

The decisive shot in the playoff against Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita came from a greenside bunker on the fourth playoff hole, when Bland hit the flagstick and was left with a tap-in for par while Fujita was in the process of making a bogey.

LIV Golf

Bland, who has only seen video of the shot a handful of times, said at the time that his bunker shot wasn’t a difficult one, but he offered a bit more perspective on Tuesday.

“If you’re playing with your friends on a day out, it’s not that tough,” he said. “Obviously the situation makes it together. … To play that shot exactly the way you want to play it is very satisfying.”

Bland would love to continue his winning form this month in the two LIV Golf events, either this week at Valderrama or back home in England on July 26-28 at JCB Golf and Country Club. An original LIV Golf member who has started all 29 events in the league’s brief history, Bland’s best finishes are two T3s, in Bangkok in 2022 and at Greenbrier last year.

Winning a LIV Golf event against a field that includes 14 major champions, including reigning U.S. Open champ Bryson DeChambeau and Valderrama favorites Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia, as well as a bunch of young guns – some of whom aren’t even half his age – poses a significantly different challenge than winning senior-only events, of which he’s one of the younger players.

“To win a LIV event is a whole different kettle of fish, just with the quality of players you’re up against,” Bland said. “You’re going to have unbelievable support this week for Jon and Sergio, and rightly so. If it doesn’t happen this week, maybe at JCB. To do it in front of a home crowd … well, the main thing is if I play well, then hopefully I’ll be there come Sunday.”

Lately, he’s been there on quite a number of Sundays.

Images: Supplied

READ MORE: First Look: LIV Golf Andalucía at Real Club Valderrama

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Bland, 51, trailed Fujita by three strokes with eight holes to play when played resumed at 8 a.m. on Monday morning. After what could have been a backbreaking bogey at the par-3 13th, the Englishman made back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15 to tie for the lead at 14 under. A Fujita bogey at No. 14 soon after gave Bland the solo lead.

A bogey at the last for Bland meant he had to sit and wait at 13 under as Fujita finished up with a chance to win in regulation. Fujita’s birdie effort at the last narrowly missed, and he tapped in for par to tie Bland at 13 under, setting up a two-hole aggregate playoff. They tied the 10th and 18th holes and went to sudden death, where they tied on 18, twice.

After they both missed the 18th green on the third hole of sudden death, Fujita chipped his third on but it came up well short, leaving him with a lengthy par try. Bland, who had snap-hooked one into the left greenside bunker, proceeded to pull off one of the shots of his life:

CLUTCH.

What a bunker shot for Richard Bland as he wins the U.S. Senior Open. pic.twitter.com/vdlgcMtRAU

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 1, 2024

Turns out, he did win the championship right there, as Fujita went on to miss his par putt, setting the stage for Bland’s tap-in to victory. He has now won back-to-back senior major championships, the last coming in May at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in Michigan.

“This is very special, struggling to put it into words right now,” said Bland, a member of Cleeks GC on the LIV Golf tour. “It was just a tough day, we were chasing him [Fujita] all week. I think he had the lead pretty much wire-to-wire. I made a great birdie on 15 to go one in front, but kind of tried to trip over myself on the last. Just thankful to get into a playoff.

“To get this one as well, to go 2-for-2, that’s beyond my wildest dreams.”

Bland was informed by NBC analyst Peter Jacobsen that he’s now part of some iconic history at Newport C.C., where the likes of Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam have won USGA events before. Elite company.

“To be in that bracket is, um, I’m probably doing it a little disservice, to be honest with you,” he joked. “No, to be in that kind of bracket is very, very special. Something you can only dream of.”

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The USD $2 million tournament takes place at the iconic Royal Golf Dar Es Salam Red Course in Rabat from 4-7 July, and will feature a host of LIV Golf League stars and the cream of the Asian Tour.

Bland, the 51-year-old member of Cleeks GC on the LIV Golf League, shot a final-round eight-under-par 63 on Sunday to finish at 17-under for a three-stroke victory on his senior major debut at Harbor Shores Resort in Michigan.

Richard Bland of Cleeks GC on the driving range ahead of his LIV Golf London second round at the Centurion Club on 8 July 2023. Picture by LIV Golf.

McDowell, a Ryder Cup hero for Europe and a member of Brooks Koepka’s Smash GC team, was crowned US Open champion at Pebble Beach in 2010, becoming the first European to win the coveted Major since Tony Jacklin 40 years previously.

Thai golfer Jazz, a seven-time Asian Tour winner, produced a brilliant eagle-birdie finish to claim the International Series Morocco trophy by one shot from Richard T Lee of Canada in the 2022 edition.

Other big names include South Africa’s Stinger GC star Branden Grace and Spanish youngster Eugenio Chacarra of Fireballs GC, the 2023 St Andrews Bay Championship winner.

Zimbabwean Kieran Vincent, last season’s International Series Vietnam champion and a winner at the KitKat Cash & Carry Pro-Am on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa at the weekend, is also confirmed.

Graeme McDowell pictured during round two of the BNI Indonesian Masters presented by Tunas Niaga Energi at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club, Jakarta, Indonesia on 17 November 2023. Picture by Asian Tour.

The LIV Golf League newcomer earned a place on Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team through the LIV Golf Promotions event in December, and he will line up alongside team-mate Caleb Surratt and Range Goats GC player Peter Uihlein.

In-form American John Catlin, the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader and International Series Rankings No.2 after completing remarkable back-to-back victories earlier this season, will also play in the fourth of 10 dates on The International Series that form the Asian Tour-sanctioned pathway onto the LIV Golf League.

 

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The 33-year-old carded an historic 59, a first ever for the Asian Tour, on his way to a thrilling sudden-death play-off victory over David Puig in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn in March, before roaring to a seven-shot victory in the Saudi Open presented by PIF the following month.

He will be joined by Gaganjeet Bhullar, an 11-time winner on the Asian Tour, and International Series Thailand 2023 champion Wade Ormsby, with Thai stars Sarit Suwannarut and Sadom Kaewkanjana – both multiple Asian Tour champions – also confirmed.

Jazz Janewattananond pictured with the International Series Morocco trophy on 6 November 2022 at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. Picture by Asian Tour.

M. Mustapha Zine, first Vice President of the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation added: “We are delighted to welcome back The International Series to Morocco. Royal Golf Dar Es Salam is a golf club steeped in tradition and heritage, the perfect location to welcome the cream of the Asian Tour, the LIV Golf League stars and also the best Moroccan talent.”

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series, said: “Our return to Morocco is another example of the important role The International Series plays in the global golf ecosystem.

“The International Series offers players the chance to compete for a big-money purse at a wonderful destination, while also providing a pathway to the LIV Golf League that has already proved life-changing for a number of Asian Tour players.

Rahul Singh, Head of The International Series with Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour

“We also provide a golden opportunity for the region’s best talent to mix with some of the biggest names in world golf.

“In the 2022 edition, Ayoub Lguirati from Morocco finished T28, and another nine amateurs and professionals from the country gained invaluable experience playing in a field of elite-level golfers from around the world. We are confident we will see similar returns this year.”

Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour, said: “Royal Golf Dar Es Salam has a rich tradition in golf. The 2022 tournament was a great success, and this is another wonderful opportunity to bring elite-level golf to the country, and generate further interest in the sport across the wider region.”

International Series Morocco takes place from 4-7 July at the Royal Dar Es Salam Red Course in Rabat. It is the eighth event of the Asian Tour season.

Main Image: Patrick McDermott

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LIV Golf is not bereft of talent, obviously, but Richard Bland, a 51-year-old Englishman and former DP World Tour journeyman, would seem among the least likely of its members to emerge a major champion in the U.S.

Bland, who had only one victory in a long DP World Tour career before joining LIV, shot a final-round eight-under-par 63 in cool, wet weather to win the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship on Sunday at Harbor Shores in Benton Harbor, Michigan. It was his senior debut.

“I was interested to see that if I brought my game how it would stack up against these guys,” Bland said. “Thankfully, it does.”

The legend of Dickie B continues to grow. Playing the best golf of his lengthy career at a later age. Congratulations Richard Bland. Sr. PGA Champion. #Blandamonium

— Jerry Foltz (@JerryFoltzGolf) May 26, 2024

Bland’s 72-hole total of 17-under 267 was three better than runner-up Richard Green and four ahead of Greg Chalmers.

He was not even sure he’d be eligible to play in the Senior PGA Championship. At 48, he won the British Masters, which earned him an exemption into the tournament in 2023, but a LIV Golf event was scheduled the same weekend, precluding him from playing. This year, with no LIV event scheduled for the same week, he reached out to the PGA of America, asking if he could play this year, and he received an invitation to do so.

2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Champion: Richard Bland.

Get yourself someone who looks at you like Richard Bland looks at his first Major Championship trophy. pic.twitter.com/EBMip6qn6v

— PGA of America (@PGA) May 26, 2024

Then he went out and won it.

“Obviously, the British Masters was very special at 48, but this is right up there,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier.”

Bland, the second-round leader, imploded in the third round, citing a faulty putter in posting a three-over 74 that placed him a shot behind co-leaders Chalmers and Ernie Els. In the final round, he putted exceptionally well with the same putter.

“I think I put the fright in my putter,” he said. “I went out on the putting green with a different putter. I putted so poorly yesterday. I brought a different putter with me and kind of scared my gamer, thinking about putting a different putter in there. I’m glad I didn’t.”

Bland was trailing Chalmers by one when they arrived at the par-5 15th hole. Bland eagled the hole, while Chalmers parred it, to take a lead he never relinquished.

“He hit two beautiful shots on the par 5 to six feet above the hole and made it for eagle,” Chalmers aid. “Then the second shot I thought he hit on 16 was world class. To be able to be in that right rough there and turn it into that pin, he won this golf tournament. He played beautiful golf today. He played the best golf and absolutely deserves the trophy.”

The victory earns Bland an exemption into the U.S. Senior Open next month at Newport Country Club in Newport, Rhode Island. He will play two LIV Golf events, in Houston and Nashville, in the run-up to the Senior Open.

Image: Patrick McDermott

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There were storms brewing ahead of Sunday’s final round at LIV Golf’s 10th event of 2023 at the Greenbrier, both on and off the course.

Due to the potential for inclement weather, Sunday’s final round of LIV Golf Greenbrier was brought forward to a shotgun start at 9.05am local time in West Virginia.

Meanwhile, David Puig, LIV Golf’s youngest player at age 21 is locked in a battle with Matthew Wolff for the individual title this weekend.

They shared a lot of laughs Saturday playing in the same group at LIV Golf Greenbrier. And now they share the lead going into the final round at The Old White course.

Wolff followed up his LIV-record tying 61 in the opening round with a three-under 67, while Puig shot 65, leaving both players at 12-under through the first 36 holes. That’s one stroke better than the trio of Bryson DeChambeau, Richard Bland and season-long points leader Talor Gooch, with four more players another stroke back.

Wolff and Puig will be paired again in the leading group that tees off on hole No. 1.

“I’m excited to play with him tomorrow,” Wolff said of the young Spanish star. “I’m excited to be tied for the lead. I’m going to go out there and give it my all, and we’ll see what happens.”

“The age helps probably to enjoy more … or have fun, maybe,” Puig said. “Looking forward to tomorrow.”

The third member of the lead group is Bland, who at 50 years old is the second oldest LIV Golf player.

“I’m trying to keep us oldies still relevant,” said Bland.

As a team, Puig’s Torque certainly had plenty of fun, with a cumulative second round score of 19-under with Mito Pereira’s 62 and Sebastián Muñoz’s 64 counting with Puig’s 65. That leaves Torque at 34-under and four shots ahead of Stinger. Four other teams are eight shots behind.

Torque are seeking their fourth team title of the season while hoping to close the gap with the league-leading 4 Aces, who are in 11th place after managing just even par on Saturday.

Bryson DeChambeau. LIV Golf

Meanwhile, Bryson DeChambeau might have had the most fun of any individual player on Saturday, shooting his lowest score in a LIV Golf tournament (61) to get to 11-under. His bogey-free round was fuelled by a hot putter, as he converted three birdie attempts of 27 feet or better, including a 47-footer at the 14th hole and a 32-footer at the fourth.

Add increased confidence with the new driver he put in his bag this week, and the Crushers captain is feeling good about his game. He took second place last month at LIV Golf Andalucía when Gooch birdied the final hole for his third win of the season.

“Obviously the putting was more important because that’s what allowed me to shoot that far under par,” said the 2020 US Open champ. “But the driving was on par if not better than that. Having this confidence off the tee is crucial to me playing well, and that’s what it’s provided me so far.”

Puig will be looking for his first professional win since turning pro last year. Wolff’s last pro win came in 2019 in just his third start after becoming a pro. Both players are just outside the top 24 in points who receive guaranteed spots at the end of the regular season for next year’s LIV Golf League.

Sunday at Greenbrier could be a big day for the two youngsters.

“I know we’re young but we’re here for a reason,” Wolff said. “I don’t really think anyone else is looking at us like, oh, we’re young. I think they all know we’re going to give it our best. There’s a reason we’re in the lead.”

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Johnson — the 4 Aces team captain and Boston individual winner — has a healthy lead in both standings as we get set for Day 2 in Bangkok, but Bland looks ready to pounce, if DJ opens the door.

With Bland leading the way, Johnson is in a tie for 21st, thanks to a two-under 70 and four-event team winner cut an unhappy figure as he headed to the range for some post-round practice.

Johnson has a 39-point lead in the individual standings, and victory in Bangkok would secure the title and the $18 million bonus.

But a second win for Grace and Johnson failing to reach the top 24 would see the 34-year-old leapfrog the two-time major champ and lead by one point going into the Jeddah showdown.

“I’m just trying to win a golf tournament,” said Grace, a member of the all-South African Stinger team. “If I can do that, if I can keep my mind toward that, then the rest will happen. I’m just fortunate to be in a good position coming into this week, lying second and playing well and feeling good about the game. I just need to come out here and hit the shots and make the most of it.”

As for Bland and Chacarra, they are at opposite ends of the spectrum in regards to their professional experience, but they now share the same goal – build on their first-round 65s and give the top of the leaderboard some new names this weekend. That goes for both the individual and team competition, as Chacarra’s Fireballs GC leads the team standings at 14-under, followed by Bland’s Cleeks GC at 13-under.

Iron Heads, who have local hopes Sadom Kaewkanjana and Phachara Khongwatmai in their ranks, are third at 11-under.

The 49-year-old Bland, whose first win came at the 2021 British Masters in his 478th career start, shot a bogey-free round while finishing with three birdies in his last four holes.

“They put a few of the tees up, and a couple of the stronger par 4s played downwind, which was favourable for me because I’m not one of the long hitters,” said Bland. “You couldn’t design a better course for Bryson [DeChambeau], really.

“But we’re all good players. And obviously because the fairways are so wide, once you’ve got irons in your hands and the greens are quite soft, guys are going to shoot good scores, no matter where you are.”

At 22, Chacarra is the youngest player in this week’s field. He was the world’s No. 2 amateur before turning pro earlier this year to become a LIV Golf member. He’s still looking for his first top 20 finish, although his Fireballs team have finished in the money twice since he joined captain Sergio Garcia’s team.

“I’m living the dream,” Chacarra said. “I’m playing with Sergio. He’s my hero since I was little, and then I got Abraham [Ancer] and Carlo [Ortiz] that are really good friends, and they are helping me as much as they can every week.

“I didn’t play very good the first four weeks and I didn’t help much, so I like helping them and giving them the trust they put on me to be on their team.”

Branden Grace. Andy Lyons

TEAM TALK

In addition to the individual stroke-play competition, players are also competing as four-man teams during LIV Golf events. Starting with Bangkok, the best three scores in each roind will combine to produce the team score. The previous counting-score format was 2-2-3.

“I think 3-3-3 is just better,” said Sihwan Kim of third=placed Iron Heads. “Makes it more exciting for the teams.”

The total team prize money for each event is $5 million, with the winning team dividing $3 million, second place dividing $1.5 million and third place dividing $500,000 among its four team members.

In addition, teams are vying for seeds going into the Team Championship in Miami, the final event of the inaugural season with a $50 million purse. Teams have received points for their finishes in each event, and the top four teams in the points standings after next week’s event in Jeddah receive day one byes in Miami.

Team leaderboard
1. Fireballs, 14-under (Eugenio Chacarra 65, Sergio Garcia 68, Abraham Ancer 69)
2. Cleeks, 13-under (Richard Bland 65, Graeme McDowell 68, Laurie Canter 70)
3. Iron Heads, 11-under (Kevin Na 67, Sihwan Kim 67, Phachara Khongwatmai 71)
T-4. Stinger, 10-under (Branden Grace 65, Charl Schwartzel 70, Shaun Norris, 71)
T-4 Niblicks, 10-under (Harold Varner III 67, James Piot 69, Hudson Swafford 70)
T-4. Majesticks, 10-under (Ian Poulter 66, Lee Westwood 69, Henrik Stenson 71)
T-4. Smash, 10 under (Brooks Koepka 67, Jason Kokrak 69, Peter Uihlein 70)

Ian Poulter. LIV Golf

STATS

Driving accuracy – Ian Poulter, Kevin Na, Graeme McDowell, James Piot, Peter Uihlein, Carlos Ortiz, 100 per cent (14 of 14 fairways)
Driving distance – Bryson DeChambeau, 352.1-yard average
Greens in regulation – Sihwan Kim, 100% (18 of 18 greens)
Fewest putts – Branden Grace, Kevin Na, 24 putts
Most birdies – Ian Poulter, 8
Easiest hole – 584-yard par-5 6th, which played to a stroke average of 4.458.
Hardest hole – 484-yard par-4 8th, which played to a stroke average of 4.104, and the 177-yard par-3 16th, which played to a stroke average of 3.104.
Course stroke average: Rd. 1 (69.625). Par is 72.

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