Richard Bland, the 2024 U.S. Senior Open champion, has ignited a firestorm of controversy by opting to compete in LIV Golf’s Dallas event this week instead of defending his title at the Broadmoor Golf Club.
The 52-year-old Englishman’s decision has led some golf purists to question the prestige and relevance of the senior golf circuit, with critics arguing it underscores a growing divide in professional golf.
Bland, who captured both the Senior PGA Championship and the U.S. Senior Open in 2024, cited contractual obligations with LIV Golf as the primary reason for his absence. In a statement shared via the Cleeks Golf Club’s social media, Bland expressed pride in his 2024 Senior Open victory but emphasized his commitment to LIV’s 14-event schedule.
“I’m fully committed to playing the 14-event LIV Golf schedule and honoring my opportunity with the Cleeks and the league, where my goal is to finish in the top 24 and once again secure my roster spot for next season,” he said.
Currently 21st in LIV’s season-long standings, Bland is just two points above the “Open Zone,” where players risk being traded or released.
The LIV Golf Dallas event, June 27-29 at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas, offers a $20 million purse, with $4 million to the winner, dwarfing the U.S. Senior Open’s $4 million purse and $720,000 winner’s share, unchanged for eight years.
This financial disparity has fueled speculation that Bland’s choice prioritizes money over legacy, a sentiment echoed by some fans and analysts.
“Forcing Richard Bland to play in 90° heat in Dallas instead of defending his US Senior Open title is elder abuse,” quipped one user on X, while another argued, “Hearing the LIV Defense force say Blandy is doing the right thing for $25 million… is what is wrong with pro-golf.”
Critics of Bland’s decision point to it as evidence that the senior circuit, once a celebrated stage for golf’s elder statesmen, has lost its luster.
“A senior US Open title… It seems LIV Dallas is more important to him than a senior major,” one X user remarked, suggesting that Bland’s choice reflects a broader devaluation of senior events in the face of LIV’s lucrative model.
The scheduling clash, reminiscent of Bland skipping the 2023 Senior PGA Championship for a LIV event, highlights ongoing tensions between LIV Golf and traditional tours. Lee Westwood, another LIV player, also withdrew from the U.S. Senior Open to compete in Dallas, further amplifying the narrative.
However, Bland’s supporters argue that his decision reflects pragmatic career management rather than a dismissal of the senior circuit’s value. At 52, Bland is balancing the demands of a competitive LIV season with the need to secure his financial future. His 2024 senior major wins proved his late-career prowess, but maintaining his LIV roster spot ensures long-term stability.
The U.S. Senior Open will proceed without its defending champion, with Stewart Cink, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Steven Alker emerging as betting favorites. The Broadmoor, hosting its ninth USGA championship, expects a strong turnout and a $24 million economic boost for Colorado Springs, but Bland’s absence has shifted attention to the broader implications for senior golf.
As LIV Golf continues to disrupt the sport’s traditional structures, Bland’s choice has become a lightning rod for debate. Is the senior circuit losing its prestige, or is Bland simply navigating the realities of modern professional golf?
