England’s Richard Bland says it was untrue LIV Golf denied him a tournament release to play in the Senior Open at Carnoustie.
England’s Richard Bland says it’s untrue LIV Golf denied him a tournament release to play in the Senior Open.
If Bland was in the field at Carnoustie this week he would have been vying to make it a hat-trick of senior major wins.
The 51-year-old captured the Senior PGA Championship in May and a few weeks later added more silverware to his trophy cabinet by winning the U.S. Senior Open.
Bland is unable to play the Senior Open because the tournament is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the R&A.
The Englishman resigned from the DP World Tour and would need to apply to have his membership back and settle any outstanding fines before he could play.
Bland previously implored the R&A to ‘stand up’ to the DP World Tour.
“This is an open event, not a closed event,” Bland previously told Golf Digest on the subject.
Lee Westwood is also in a similar predicament to Bland.
It’s a moot point, though, as the Senior Open clashes with LIV Golf United Kingdom at JCB Golf & Country Club.
Bland told bunkered on Thursday: “That’s a DP World Tour decision.
“I don’t think that’s an R&A decision. Myself and Lee, we didn’t have our fines paid and I didn’t want my fines paid.
“I had no plan to go back [to the DP World Tour] so I didn’t see the point.
“At the end of the day, it’s a loss to the tournament and the fans that they don’t get to see Lee and myself.
“There were rumours going around that LIV didn’t allow me a release to go and play.
“The truth is I didn’t even ask for a release. Even if it was possible, I’d still be here. This is my priority.”
“That’s me off into the sunset”
Bland previously revealed that when he loses his status in the LIV Golf League he will retire.
He reiterated that is still the game plan.
Golfers who finish 49th and below in the standings will be relegated.
Whilst those who finish outside the top 24 are not guaranteed a contract.
In that case, his future would be decided by another team captain who might want to take a punt on the veteran.
“Once I’m not wanted by LIV, that’s me off into the sunset and I’ll be a very happy man,” Bland said.
“I like where I’m playing, the schedule I have. I don’t particularly want to play full-time in America.
“If I wasn’t playing on LIV, that might be completely different.
“But when the PGA Tour came out and said, ‘You’re not welcome here after the PGA’, I didn’t lose any sleep.
“I’m very, very happy where I’m at.”
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