England’s Richard Bland won his second consecutive major title with a stunning victory at the US Senior Open.
Bland edged Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita on the second hole in sudden death after the pair finished 13 under par and could not be separated by a two-hole aggregate play-off.
Both men bogeyed the first sudden-death hole before returning to 18, where Bland hit the pin with his third shot off the green to leave the holeshot for victory after Fujita missed his own attempt.
“This is very special,” Bland said at the launch event. “I’m having trouble putting this into words right now.”
Fujita was three under after 10 holes when the final round was suspended due to dangerous weather on Sunday afternoon.
At the time the 55-year-old had made two bogeys all week, but when play resumed on Monday he bogeyed the 11th, 12th and 14th as Bland – in the front group – followed up with a bogey on the 13th with a birdie. 14 and 15.
That gave Bland one shot but he missed the 18th and was able to watch as Fujita came agonizingly close to holing a long birdie putt for victory.
“I made a good birdie on 15 to take the lead but I tried to get cocky at the end and I was very grateful to get into the play-off,” said Bland.
“The shootout was one of those that could have been more aggressive and I’m indescribably happy to be standing here. To go twice [in senior majors] it’s beyond my wildest dreams.”
Bland dedicated his Senior PGA Championship trophy in May to his brother Heath, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer a year ago and recently diagnosed with lung cancer.
Speaking after winning the US Open, Bland joked: “He can have the PGA but I’m sorry, he’s not going to take this one off my hands. This one lives in my house.”
Bland won his first DP World Tour event in his 478th start at the 2021 British Masters and joined LIV. Golf for its first season in 2022.
As things stand, the 51-year-old will not be able to compete in the Senior Open at Carnoustie later this month as he is contracted to play in the LIV event near Uttoxeter in the same week.
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