Richard Bland acknowledges his career is nearing its conclusion regardless of LIV Golf’s fate.
LIV Golf’s future remains uncertain, but 53-year-old Richard Bland is clear about one thing regarding his next professional step — it won’t be on the PGA Tour Champions.
Bland, who claimed the Senior PGA Championship and U.S. Senior Open in 2024, stated on Friday at LIV Golf Virginia that he sees the end of his playing career approaching. While former LIV members Pat Perez and Henrik Stenson have chosen to sit out a one-year suspension before competing on the PGA Tour’s senior circuit, Bland will not follow their path.
“From what I’ve been told, I’m not hugely welcome there,” Bland said on Friday. “I wasn’t given the exemption. I’m the only senior major champion never to get that exemption, and that’s fine, I don’t have an issue with that. I think the Champions Tour have made it pretty now impossible for anybody to come and play. I’m not going to go chasing it. I’ll be 54 years old, but I’m going to be banned for a year anyway.”
The Senior PGA Championship is run by the PGA of America, while the U.S. Senior Open is organized by the USGA. The PGA Tour operates PGA Tour Champions.
LIV Golf faces an uncertain future after the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund announced it will withdraw financial backing after the 2026 season. LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil is working to secure outside investment to keep the league running beyond this year.
For Bland, regardless of what happens, he knows his professional days are numbered, and he has made peace with that.
“I know it’s coming quite soon,” Bland said of retirement. “I kind of earmarked next year would probably be my last year of playing full-time, as I do right now. Then going forward, really kind of scattered, but play where I want to play. For me right now, I’m 53. For me, the travel is the hard bit. … That’s been the hard thing for me, is recovery, getting ready for tournaments.”
Bland turned professional in 1996 and became the DP World Tour’s oldest first-time winner when he captured the Betfred British Masters in 2021. He joined LIV Golf during its inaugural season in 2022, and that, at the moment, will be the final chapter of his professional career. He doesn’t feel the need to extend it on a senior circuit.
“Semi-retirement, it’s getting a lot nearer — and that’s fine,” Bland said. “I’m okay with that. I’ve had one helluva ride out here and the best decision I ever made.”
