The LIV Golf and the PGA Tour feud returned to the fore at the Senior PGA Championship as the winner is ineligible for the one-year PGA Tour Champions exemption
Richard Bland won the Senior PGA Championship this weekend but cannot receive the customary one-year PGA Tour Champions exemption.
Bland, 51, received a special invitation from the PGA of America for the over-50s event and finished three shots clear of the field in his first senior start. The victory is his first since the 2021 British Masters on the European Tour. A year later, after continuing to impress on the DP World Tour Race to Dubai and then at the US Open, Bland joined the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series.
That move has led to him resigning his membership of the European Tour after receiving fines and a suspension. It also continues to cost Bland when it comes to senior golf.
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“In spite of the win, because of competing in an unauthorized event by the PGA TOUR, he will be ineligible for TOUR-affiliated events,” the tour confirmed in a statement shared hours after Bland’s victory.
“The PGA of America, USGA and R&A each operate based on criteria of their own,” the tour acknowledged. As such, Bland is exempt for the US Senior Open starting 27 June, which the USGA administers.
Bland will also be back to defend his Senior PGA Championship title at Congressional Country Club next year. Bland acknowledged that during a press conference following the victory. “Can’t wait to get there,” he remarked before acknowledging: “I’m going to enjoy this first. I’m going to enjoy the heck out of this.”
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Earlier this week, Bland restated his commitment to the Saudi-funded breakaway. “I want to play LIV as long as I can,” he said during an interview after the second round.
“I don’t really know what I want to do when that ends, whether I do want to come and try and play out here (on the PGA Tour Champions).” Bland explained: “It’s not something on my radar right now to be playing (Champions).
However, he nonetheless spoke highly about the tour. “This is the hardest tour in the world to try to get on to,” Bland remarked. “I would have to go to the qualifying school, as it stands right now.
“But I will see. I will cross that bridge when I come to it, whether I decide to hang them up or carry on playing. My wife seems to think I’ll never retire, but, yeah, we’ll see.”
He also acknowledged beforehand not knowing whether the PGA Tour would allow him to play Champions. Winning at the Harbor Shores Resort has clarified that.
Before being back out at the US Senior Open, there are two LIV Golf events for Bland in Houston and Nashville. He is part of Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks GC in the league alongside Adrian Meronk and Kalle Smooja. Bland has finished as high as 8th this year in Hong Kong, his fifth top-ten finish in three years.