'I’m The Best Player I’ve Ever Been' - Richard Bland Credits LIV Golf Move As Reason For Unprecedented Form Following US Senior Open Win
The Englishman claimed his second over-50s Major in a playoff on Monday, adding on to his Senior PGA Championship title, and believes his switch to LIV led to such excellent play


Fresh off the back of winning the US Senior Open - his second over-50s Major in two starts - Richard Bland believes he is "the best player I've ever been."
The 51-year-old triumphed in a playoff over Hiroyuki Fujita at Newport Country Club on Monday, following up his Senior PGA Championship victory earlier this year.
Bland's number of wins in senior Majors is already higher than the number of victories he managed in 20 years on the European Tour (one), although his OWGR spot has taken a significant dip after his move to the LIV Golf League in 2022.
At the time, Bland had not long been as high as 48th in the world. But the man from Burton Upon Trent in England insists he is now "a way better golfer than I was back then" due to competing against serial Major winners such as Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka on a weekly basis.
In his first two years with the 54-hole circuit, Bland has maintained his spot in the competition for the following season by ending the campaign inside the 'Lock Zone' - the top-24 players.
Ultimately crediting what he believes to be unprecedented levels of play - three years on from leading the US Open at Torrey Pines before falling away at the weekend - to his decision in 2022, Bland heaped all possible praise on his move to LIV.
He said: "Yeah, I’m a way better golfer than I was back then, but I think that’s the caliber of players that I’m playing against on LIV. To play against Bryson, who won just the other week at Pinehurst, to play against him, to play against Jon Rahm, Cam Smith, DJ [Dustin Johnson], Brooks [Koepka], they’re the best players in the world.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
"I don’t care what the world ranking says. If I’m going to compete with those guys, I have to bring my A game. I have to. I can’t bring my C game, and it won’t stack up against those.
"It just elevates my game, and I think it’s done that unbelievably over the last three years. It’s just made me a better player. You’re not always going to be playing your best golf, but I’m the best player I’ve ever been."
Another motivating factor for the four-time pro winner is to make his brother Heath happy, who has been battling cancer for several years but is due to undergo surgery to remove a tumor from his lung soon.
Richard Bland's only DP World Tour win was at the 2021 British Masters
Bland has often referenced his brother after successes and said Heath is always on his mind somewhere. The 51-year-old said after his latest senior Major victory that the PGA Championship trophy will now belong to Heath while the US Senior Open silverware will be enjoyed at home by Bland and his wife.
"Yeah, he's always there kind of in the back of all of our minds," said Bland. "It's been a tough 15, 16 months for him and the family. Hopefully he's going to have some surgery soon to get rid of the tumor from his lung.
"We had some good news that it's not going to be hugely invasive surgery. It's only going to be keyhole, and it's going to be only an overnight stay. When he had his surgery three, four months ago for his bowel cancer, he was in hospital for nearly six weeks, and it was a 15-hour operation.
"Yeah, we're just praying that hopefully that once this is gone, that's it for him. It's one of those diseases that's just -- you know, we wish we could eradicate. You wouldn't want to wish it on anyone's life. You hear the statistics that it's kind of one in every two people get it, and you always kind of think, you know what, it won't happen to us. When it does, it's like a train wreck. It's an absolute train wreck.
"I was fortunate to win the PGA and obviously win -- I think I get the replica for that this week. I've always said that that's his. He can have that. That was always for him. But this one right here, this one's for me and my wife.
"I'm just looking forward to getting back home and seeing the family. I've been away for four weeks now. Yeah, really looking forward to getting home."

Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood, and Joaquin Niemann. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and recently reached his Handicap goal of 18 for the first time. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
-
Hye-Jin Choi Facts: 10 Things To Know About The LPGA Tour Pro
Hye-Jin Choi had a glittering amateur career, and she’s taken that into her professional journey, with a host of wins – here are 10 things to know about her
By Mike Hall
-
Yan Liu Facts: 10 Things To Know About The LPGA Tour Pro
Yan Liu has been making solid progress in her professional career – here are 10 things to know about the LPGA Tour golfer
By Mike Hall
-
Richard Bland Makes Albatross At LIV Golf Mexico City
The Cleeks GC player found the hole with just his second shot at the par-5 16th during the second round of the tournament
By Mike Hall
-
Bryson DeChambeau Produces 377 Yard Average Off The Tee At LIV Golf Mexico City
The American had the driver firing during his first round in Mexico City, with DeChambeau producing mammoth drive after mammoth drive at Club de Golf Chapultepec
By Matt Cradock
-
How Many LIV Golfers Have Qualified For the PGA Championship?
Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka are just two of 13 players from LIV Golf who will be able to tee it up at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow
By Paul Higham
-
Watch Bryson DeChambeau Smash 400+ Yard Monster Drive In LIV Golf Mexico Practice
DeChambeau is hitting mega drives this week in the 7,800ft altitude setting of Golf Club de Chapultepec in Mexico City
By Elliott Heath
-
Ping Joins Callaway As Second Manufacturer To Sponsor LIV Golf Team
Ping has signed a deal to sponsor Joaquin Niemann's LIV Golf team Torque GC just ahead of the event in Mexico
By Paul Higham
-
Wesley Bryan Confirms He Will Appeal ‘Indefinite’ PGA Tour Suspension
The YouTube content creator has confirmed he will be appealing the PGA Tour’s decision to suspend him for taking part in the LIV Golf: The Duels match
By Mike Hall
-
Why Does Tyrrell Hatton Wear The Topgolf Logo On His Hat?
The Englishman has the driving-range company on his cap due to a deal involving his LIV Golf League team, Legion XIII and Callaway
By Jonny Leighfield
-
LIV Golf Leaderboard At The Masters: Bryson DeChambeau Two Back Heading Into Final Round At Augusta National
Bryson DeChambeau is the highest-placed of the seven LIV Golfers who made the cut Augusta National, and he begins the fourth round just two off the lead
By Elliott Heath