Richard Bland: “I Found Out What The US Open Is Really About”

Richard Bland says he “found out what the US Open is really about” over the weekend after holding the 36-hole lead at Torrey Pines.

The Englishman, who won his first European Tour title at last month’s British Masters, played incredible golf over the first two days before fading to a T50th finish.

He carded rounds of 70, 67, 77 and 78 to finish the tournament at eight-over-par.

“Yeah, yeah, like I’ve just said there, this is probably a game of two halves,” the 48-year-old said after his closing 78.

“The first two days were great, and then I found out what the US Open is really about.

“I was hoping that it would be firm and fast, and it was.

“It shows you the guys that are right in there that you just have to be on top of your game in every department.

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“If there’s something that’s just 5 percent off, it just kills you out here.

“You just get it slightly in the wrong position, it’s hard to get the ball up-and-down. But that’s the US Open, and that’s the test that we’re all presented with, and I wasn’t up to it this weekend.

“But overall it’s been a positive week. I’ll probably remember the first two days more than the second two, so a little bit disappointing, but it’s been a good week.”

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The new World No.111 received a very modest boost in the world rankings and will surely look back on this week, just his fourth Major start, with great fondness.