Richard Bland offers the Francis D. Ouimet Memorial Trophy a kiss after profitable the U.S. Senior Open at Newport Nation Membership on Monday. England’s Richard Bland wanted 4 playoff holes to get previous Hiroyuki Fujita of Japan and win the rain-delayed U.S. Senior Open at Newport (R.I.) Nation Membership on Monday.
Bland claimed victory solely after he hit the pin on a bunker shot on the fourth additional gap after which tapped within the putt for par. Fujita led the match nearly wire-to-wire however ended with consecutive bogeys on the par-4, 18th gap used for the ultimate three holes within the playoff.
The victory marks the second consecutive main victory for Bland, who additionally gained the Senior PGA final month and credit participation in LIV Golf for his profession revival.
“To return out on prime … I used to be simply hoping going into the PGA that I used to be ok to contend,” Bland stated. “I hadn’t performed towards these guys. I knew, if I performed the best way I do know I can play, it needs to be ok to have the ability to compete. However, yeah, to be right here with two majors is — yeah, I am confused in the mean time now.”
Bland stated the bunker shot on the fourth additional gap was not all that difficult and he tried to normalize it as a lot as doable as if he was in a sport with mates.
“It was only one the place I needed to keep aggressive, keep dedicated, and it got here out excellent,” Bland stated.
When rain hit Sunday afternoon to clean out a part of the ultimate spherical, Fujita had a three-shot lead with eight holes to play. However as he struggled to shut out the victory, Bland moved into the lead after recording birdies at Nos. 14 and 15.
“It type of felt prefer it was going to be tougher to chase,” Bland stated. “You are attempting to chase but in addition not make errors. He type of possibly journeys over a few times, which I feel possibly he did early.”
Along with the pair of bogeys within the playoff, Fujita recorded a bogey on three of his first 4 holes when play resumed Monday.
“The wind was slightly completely different at present,” Fujita stated. “It was the primary time I’ve performed Newport with this sort of wind. So I used to be undoubtedly slightly uneasy about that, and you’ll see the outcomes on the market, that among the pictures weren’t what I wanted they had been.”
Bland simply wanted a par on the 72nd gap Monday, however his bogey at No. 18 resulted in a tie at 13 underneath, 267, for the match. Richard Inexperienced of Australia completed three pictures again in third place, whereas Steve Sticker was fourth at 9 underneath.
Bland trailed by 5 strokes when the ultimate spherical started Sunday. He wasn’t even certified for the U.S. Senior Open till he gained the Senior PGA. The one gamers who’ve gained senior majors on their first two tries are Arnold Palmer and Alex Cejka.
Bland additionally grew to become the twelfth participant to win the U.S. Senior Open of their debut within the match.
“I am a approach higher golfer than I used to be (earlier than becoming a member of LIV), however I feel that is the caliber of gamers that I am enjoying towards on LIV,” Bland stated. “To play towards Bryson, who gained simply the opposite week at Pinehurst, to play towards him, to play towards Jon Rahm, Cam Smith, D.J., Brooks, they’re one of the best gamers on the earth. I do not care what the world rating says. If I will compete with these guys, I’ve to carry my sport.”
–Discipline Stage Media
