Richard Bland chooses LIV over chance to defend title at US Senior Open
The 52-year-old defending champ said on social media that he was committed to playing LIV's 14-event schedule with a goal of finishing among the top 24 to guarantee his spot on the Cleeks team captained by Martin Kaymer.
Action starts Thursday at the Broadmoor, which is hosting its ninth USGA championship. Among them: Jack Nicklaus' victory in the 1959 U.S. Amateur and Annika Sorenstam's 1995 win in the U.S. Women's Open.
Bland, a longtime fixture on the European Tour, won the British Masters in 2021 at age 48 to become that tour's oldest first-time winner. Also that year, he shared the lead at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines after two rounds before finishing 50th.
Bland was denied entry into the 2023 Senior British Open because of outstanding fines he owed to the European Tour after his move to LIV. But his win at the Senior PGA Championship in 2024 qualified him for the Senior U.S. Open later last summer, and he beat Hiroyuki Fujita in a playoff at Newport Country Club for the title.
Without Bland in the mix, the betting favorites this week are Stewart Cink, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Steven Alker. Jimenez beat Alker in a playoff at last week's senior tour stop.
Also in the field are two-time Senior U.S. Open champion Bernhard Langer and Angel Cabrera, who has already won two majors — the Tradition and Senior PGA — this year. David Toms won the last Senior Open held at the Broadmoor, back in 2018.
/hub/golf
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Yamashita struggles and sees her Women's British Open lead shrink to 1 shot over Kim
PORTHCAWL, Wales (AP) — Miyu Yamashita was crooked off the tee and struggled on the greens, a rough combination that led to a hard-fought round of 2-over 74 on Saturday that shrunk her lead to one shot over A Lim Kim in the Women's British Open. HT Image Yamashita, who led by three shots going into the third round, did not hit a fairway over the last 11 holes and still managed to stay in front at Royal Porthcawl, though it wasn't easy. She was on the verge of losing the lead on the 17th when she blasted out of a pot bunker all the way across the green to the fringe, some 40 feet away. She holed that putt for par, and then missed a birdie chance from just inside 6 feet on the par-5 closing hole. That put Yamashita — who turned 24 on Saturday — at 9-under 207. 'Today I'll be just looking at what went wrong and what went right and analyzing the day and make the improvements that hopefully will lead to a better round tomorrow,' Yamashita said. Kim put on a fabulous display as the wind got stronger with a 5-under 67. She had a chance to tie for the lead when she hit a 335-yard drive on the 18th hole with a helping wind and fast links turf. She went just long, used her putter from off the green and took three putts for par. Even so, it puts her in the final group with Yamashita as Lim goes for her second major, having won the U.S. Women's Open in 2020 in Houston without fans during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Honestly I'm not focused on the leader. I focus on my process and my shot and then my position,' Kim said. And it's not just Kim with a chance. Yamashita's struggles brought several possibilities in the final round, including the always entertaining Charley Hull of England. She shot a 66, going from 11 shots behind to within three shots of the lead as Hull goes for her first major. 'I just kind of enjoy chasing,' Hull said of playing from behind. 'It's more fun that way.' Andrea Lee had a 67 and was two shots behind, followed by Hull, Megan Khang (68), Rio Takeda (74) and Minami Katsu, whose 65 matched the low score of the tournament. 'I think there will be a little bit of extra pressure on whoever is the 54-hole leader,' Lee said. 'Tomorrow is going to be pretty tough. Anything can happen out there. I think anyone within five shots has a chance at this championship honestly, so I'm just going to try and keep my head down and stick to my own game plan and try not to look at the leaderboard.' The Women's British Open had the look of a Japanese duel, with Yamashita three shots ahead of Takeda and no one else closer than seven shots. But it was a struggle for Yamashita early with her putting, and then one of the straightest drivers lost her way. She steadied herself with an approach — from the rough, of course — into 3 feet for birdie on No. 11, and a tee shot that settled 3 feet away for another birdie on the par-3 12th. But playing out of the fescue caught up with her, and except for that 40-foot par putt on the 17th to keep her in the lead, it was a struggle to get done with the round. Takeda wasn't much better, with two bogeys in four holes at the start and two more bogeys over the final five holes. Lottie Woad, the rising English star who won last week in her professional debut, birdied the last hole for a 71 and wound up six shots behind. Nelly Korda, the No. 1 player in women's golf, is likely to end the major championship season without a title. She shot 74 and fell nine shots behind. Korda has gone 13 tournaments without winning and risks losing her No. 1 ranking to Jeeno Thitikul depending on the final round. The LPGA Tour already is off to a historic start by not having a multiple winner through 19 tournaments, a streak that could continue. Only Kim and Takeda from the top 10 on the leaderboard have won this year. ___ AP golf:
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Max Homa and Sahith Theegala played in the Presidents Cup. Now both might miss PGA Tour postseason
The Wyndham Championship is the last chance for players to qualify for the PGA Tour's postseason. It's also a reminder that so much in golf still must be earned. Max Homa and Sahith Theegala played in the Presidents Cup. Now both might miss PGA Tour postseason Sahith Theegala and Max Homa are two examples, both of them part of the winning American team at the Presidents Cup last year in Montreal. Theegala, who finished at No. 3 in the FedEx Cup last year and picked up a $7.5 million bonus, had not finished in the top 10 until running into neck trouble in May. He withdrew from three tournaments, including the PGA Championship, to rest it. He returned at the British Open and missed two straight cuts. Now he is No. 144 and needs nothing short of a victory at the Wyndham Championship to qualifying for the postseason. Homa has been in a slump for 15 months, and he started this year with a new coach and new equipment. He feels progress in his swing, but not his results. Now he's at No. 106, and likely needs a runner-up finish to have any hope of extending his season. Adding to the stress for Homa is his wife is due with their second child next week. He was not eligible for the U.S. Open or British Open. He is still grinding. 'My wife is very, very pregnant right now so really like to win one of the next two so I could skip an event coming up just so I could keep the stress level low in our household,' he said at the Barracuda Championship, held opposite the British Open. He tied for 45th at the Barracuda, and he tied for 39th in Minnesota. Three players from the International team in the Presidents Cup are outside the top 70 going into the final regular-season event — Adam Scott, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Tom Kim. The FedEx Cup standings going into the Wyndham Championship show some 20 players who were in the playoffs a year ago now outside the top 70. That includes Billy Horschel and Will Zalatoris, both out with injuries. Among the players in the top 70 who missed the postseason last year are U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun, two-time winner Brian Campbell and Chris Gotterup. They are among nine players who have won on the PGA Tour this year and are inside the top 70. Winning always helps. Scottie Scheffler, meanwhile, will pick up $18 million without playing this week. The PGA Tour has redistributed the FedEx Cup bonus money so the leader of the FedEx Cup after the regular season gets $10 million, along with $8 million from the Comcast Business Top 10. He is assured of both. The Saudi-backed LIV Golf League is making it increasingly clear it is going to markets around the world. Its biggest draw is in Adelaide, Australia. Now it is adding South Africa. LIV has announced LIV Golf South Africa has part of its 2026 schedule in a multi-year commitment. It will be the first time the fledgling league goes to South Africa, the fifth continent on which it has been played since LIV launched in 2022. Steyn City in Johannesburg will host the new event on March 20-22, one week after The Players Championship. Steyn City most recently held the Jonsson Workwear Open in 2023, which was co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Sunshine Tour. Meanwhile, Sports Business Journal reported this week the total prize fund for LIV events will be increasing by $5 million to $30 million, with $10 million devoted to team competition. There would still be a $20 million purse for the individuals. St. Andrews will be hosting the British Open for the 31st time in 2027, a week that will include another World Golf Hall of Fame induction. The shrine is now located at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina, where the USGA has a second headquarters. Padraig Harrington led the induction class at Pinehurst in 2024. The next induction will be at St. Andrews, which previously held a Hall of Fame ceremony in 2015 when Mark O'Meara, Laura Davies and David Graham were among those inducted. Davies missed out when her flight from the U.S. Women's Open was delayed. She at least arrived in time for the reception. 'There is no better connection to golf's rich history and the origins of the game than at St. Andrews,' said Mike Trostel, director of the World Golf Hall of Fame. 'We are thrilled to celebrate the next class of golf's greatest figures at the home of golf and are grateful for the collaboration with our partners at The R&A.' The Hall of Fame induction is now every two years. It will return to Pinehurst in 2029, when the USGA has the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open in consecutive weeks. Golf's magic number is starting to lose some of its magic. Brett White became the latest player with to shoot 59, doing so in dramatic fashion by making a 50-foot eagle putt on the last hole. That got him into a three-way playoff that he won in the Commissionaires Ottawa Open on the PGA Tour Americas. This was one day after Philip Barbaree Jr. shot 59 in Ottawa. It was the second time two players shot 59 or lower in the same tournament. Cristobal Del Solar and Aldrich Potgieter did it at the Astara Golf Championship in Colombia on the Korn Ferry Tour last year. Yes, it's still a big deal to have any sub-60 score in tournament golf. But it's happening with greater frequency. White had the fifth sub-60 round this year on tours around the world. There were nine such scores a year ago. The last time no score of 59 or lower was recorded on any tour was 2012. The Constellation Furyk & Friends tournament on the PGA Tour Champions was quickly established as a popular spot being held at Timuquana in Jacksonville, Florida, a Donald Ross design along the St. Johns River. That ends this year, and the tournament is moving in 2026 some 60 miles south to Ocean Course at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast, a Jack Nicklaus signature design where Michelle Wie in 2003 won the Women's Amateur Public Links at age 13. It also hosted PGA Tour Champions events in 2007 and 2008. 'We are incredibly grateful to Timuquana Country Club and the entire Jacksonville community for an unforgettable five years,' said Jim Furyk, host of a tournament that has raised more than $5 million for charity since 2021. 'We're proud of what we've built and excited for the opportunity to continue growing at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa.' The Senior British Open will return to Gleneagles next year for the second time. Darren Clarke won in 2022 when it was last held at course that hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup. ... Rio Takeda and Ayaka Furue have played 18 of the 19 tournaments on the LPGA schedule this year. Both missed only the LPGA Match Play at Shadow Creek. ... Three players who won opposite-field events this year are not among the top 70 in the FedEx Cup — Karl Vilips, William Mouw and Garrick Higgo. Joaquin Niemann has five wins in the LIV Golf League this year. He has not finished in the top 10 in his other six LIV events. 'It's the first time I think I've ever cried happy tears on the golf course." — Mia Hammond, the 17-year-old from Ohio after winning the Greater Toledo Classic. She is the second-youngest winner on the Epson Tour. golf: /hub/golf This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Time of India
LeBron James gives shoutout to popular golf star Bubba Watson for his great performance at LIV Golf UK
LeBron James, Image via Getty NBA icon LeBron James knows how to make the heads turn even during the ongoing offseason. From his NBA summer season games' appearances to the buzz around his retirement, the Los Angeles Lakers' star clearly defines his larger-than-life aura. Recently, the NBA icon posted about popular golf star Bubba Watson on Instagram, praising his terrific athletic skills. LeBron James posts about talented golf star Bubba Watson on Instagram LeBron James not only enjoys being one of the biggest NBA stars across the globe but also loves playing golf too. His latest social media posts and stories are a testament to his inclination for golf. Recently, the Lakers' star shared a highlight from LIV Golf League on his Instagram. James posted a clip featuring legendary golf star Bubba Watson's brilliant performance at the LIV Golf UK. Watson managed to divert the attention of the NBA icon with four birdies, two eagles, and a clean finish. LeBron James shared the clip with an adorable option for golfing legend Bubba Watson. His Instagram mentioned, "You're ridiculous, my friend.' LeBron James' Instagram story LeBron James generated waves on the internet after he was spotted with Nikola Jokic's agent, Misko Raznatovic, and Maverick Carter in Saint-Tropez. Raznatovic posted the picture with a caption—"The summer of 2025 is the perfect time to make big plans for the fall of 2026!" The cryptic post has turned heads in the NBA world too. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Are You From Iraq? You Might Qualify For AI Courses Artificial Intelligence Course | Search Ad Undo LeBron James motivates himself to walk that extra mile for his good health When it comes to motivating himself, there is no one better than the King himself. LeBron James recently posted a clip of himself on Instagram with a motivational caption for himself. The Los Angeles Lakers' star was seen drenched with sweat, presumably he posted the video after a rigorous exercise. From the time LeBron James wasdrafted into the NBA, he worked hard to construct his permanent spot in the widely loved sport. He has not only helped the Lakers to become one of the most successful teams in the history of NBA, but also become a brand name outside the basketball stadium. Also Read: 'He was on steroids'- Former NBA star makes shocking doping allegations against LeBron James FAQ's 1. Is LeBron James retiring from the NBA? Despite touching the 40s club, LeBron James hasn't confirmed his retirement from the NBA. 2. Are the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James breaking up? LeBron James has already accepted the $52.6 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. This move clearly shows that both the Lakers and James are not breaking ties with each other. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
