Richard Bland: "I Found Out What The US Open Is Really About"
The Englishman endured a tough weekend to finish T50th after holding the 36-hole lead at Torrey Pines


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The Englishman endured a tough weekend to finish T50th after holding the 36-hole lead at Torrey Pines
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."
Related: 10 Things you didn't know about Richard Bland
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.
Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016. He graduated in Sports Journalism in 2016 and currently manages the Golf Monthly news, courses and travel sections as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Elliott has interviewed some huge names in the golf world including Sergio Garcia, Thomas Bjorn, Bernd Wiesberger and Scotty Cameron as well as a number of professionals on the DP World and PGA Tours. He has also covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as three Open Championships including at Carnoustie in 2018 when he was inside the ropes with Tiger Woods. He has played 31 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Old Head and Alwoodley. He currently plays at West Byfleet Golf Club in Surrey, where his handicap index floats anywhere between 4-6. His golfing highlight is making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, and he has made one hole-in-one.
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Honma TR20
3 wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max
Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM Max
Irons: Honma TR20B
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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