13 Things You Didn't Know About Richard Bland

Get to know the veteran player, Richard Bland, a little better with these facts

Richard Bland strikes his tee shot with a driver and watches the flight of it
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Matt Cradock
By Matt Cradock
last updated

13 Things You Didn't Know About Richard Bland

1. Richard Bland was born 3rd February 1973 in Burton-Upon-Trent, England

2. He turned professional in 1996 and gained his European Tour card in 2002.

3. He is a big fan of Southampton Football Club and is close friends with Southampton legend, Matt Le Tissier. In the past, Le Tissier has even carried the bag for Bland.

Richard Bland Things You Didn't Know

Le Tissier and Bland at the 2003 Caltex Masters

4. The Englishman has graduated from the Challenge Tour on four occasions, most recently in 2019, when at the age of 46 he was the oldest player to earn his card.

5. His hobbies include football, cricket and Formula 1.

6. Bland is attached to Stoneham Golf Club in Southampton.

7. The Englishman made history at the 2021 British Masters by becoming the oldest first-time winner in European Tour history. It was his 478th start.

Richard Bland poses with the trophy after winning the 2021 British Masters

Bland celebrates his British Masters victory in 2021

(Image credit: Getty Images)

8. Bland has amassed around $8 million in career earnings on the DP World Tour.

9. Bland played 511 DP World Tour events

10. At the 2021 US Open, he was the second-round co-leader. At 48-years of age, he became the oldest player to hold or share a US Open lead after 36 holes.

11. In June 2022, Bland joined LIV Golf and has played every tournament since. He plays under the Cleeks GC banner

12. Despite his long career, Bland has played in just nine Major championships

13. In June 2023, both Bland and Lee Westwood had their application for The Senior Open turned down. The reason was due to the fact both were fined by the DP World Tour for joining LIV Golf

HOW FAR DOES RICHARD BLAND DRIVE THE BALL?

During the 2022 DP World Tour Tour season, Bland averaged 291.26 yards off the tee; this put him 144th in the long drive standings. During the 2023 LIV Golf season, the Englishman averaged 297.6 yards, but LIV's way of measuring tee shots is slightly different to the DP World Tour's.

Matt Cradock
Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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