England’s Richard Bland won the final round at 8 under par in his senior major debut to secure the LIV Golfers Senior PGA Championship.
Bland, 51, finished at 18 under par in the tournament in Harbor Shores, Michigan, three strokes clear of Australia’s Richard Green and eagled the par-5 15th hole, another Australian. Stealing the lead from Greg Chalmers.
After a delay due to the storm, Bland went on to par the final three holes for a 63, while Chalmers was four shots back at 13 under after bogeying the final three holes for a 3-under 68.
Defending champion Steve Stricker finished eighth at 10 under par.
Bland won his first DP World Tour event at The Belfry British Masters in 2021, in his 478th start, before deciding to join LIV Golf for his debut season in 2022.
He said this after his win on Sunday: “The British Masters was very special for me at 48. This is it. I couldn’t be happier. I’m going to really celebrate this.”
“This is my first event. I was wondering if I could bring my game and see how I would fare against these guys. Luckily, I did.”
Bland cried during the trophy presentation as he thought about Brother Heath, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer a year ago and learned last week that he had lung cancer.
“I just wanted to win for him so bad,” an emotional Bland said. “This trophy is his, not mine.”
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The Briton’s win will keep him out of the US Senior Open in Rhode Island from June 27-30, a week after playing at LIV Golf Nashville.
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