Richard Bland Historic Senior PGA Championship Victory

Richard Bland, in his debut appearance at a senior event, clinched the Senior PGA Championship title, one of the over-50 game’s prestigious major titles. Bland, now competing on the LIV Golf circuit, secured victory with a remarkable eight-under-par final round of 63 including an eagle on the 15th hole, finishing at 17-under overall. The 51-year-old outpaced Australia’s Richard Green, who finished three shots behind while Greg Chalmers of Australia settled for third place a further shot adrift at Benton Harbour in Michigan.

Bland’s path to victory saw him leading after the first two rounds before slipping behind Chalmers and South Africa’s Ernie Els following a third-round 74. However, a stellar performance on Sunday, marked by eight birdies in the first 12 holes and another eagle on the 15th, propelled him to the top of the leaderboard. Despite a bogey on the 13th, Richard Bland commanding play secured him a comfortable victory. Among the contenders, Els finished tied-sixth alongside former Ryder Cup player Chris DiMarco while defending champion Steve Stricker trailed closely behind.

Other notable participants included major champions Retief Goosen and Stewart Cink both finishing on nine under. Bland’s triumph adds to his remarkable career trajectory, notably becoming the oldest first-time winner on the DP World Tour at the 2021 British Masters. His transition to senior golf has been seamless with his victory at the Senior PGA Championship marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career.