Richard Bland won this Sunday the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, the second Major of the senior calendar season and his first tournament for over 50s. Traditionally, the champion of this major automatically receives a one-year exemption to play in the PGA Tour Champions. However, this will not be the case this time. This has been confirmed by the PGA Tour itself officially after the consultation of journalist Bob Harig.
“Despite the victory and as a result of competing in an event not authorized by the PGA TOUR, he will not be eligible for TOUR-affiliated events. The PGA of America, the USGA and the R&A each operate on their own criteria”, was the PGA Tour’s response, reflected on Harig’s social media.
On the other hand, it would be necessary to see if Richard Bland was planning to play any PGA Tour Champions tournament, something that was not exactly clear either. In any case, as it happens in the regular PGA Tour, LIV golfers can also not play Champions tournaments.
Bland earned his place in the major of the PGA of America as the champion of the British Masters in 2021. This victory gave him the possibility to play the Senior PGA Championship for one year. Last year, when he was already 50 years old and could have played it, he did not have the chance as it coincided in the calendar with a LIV tournament. However, this time he did have a free week in the Saudi league, he asked the PGA and was accepted. He played it and won it.
In theory, Bland is now exempt to play the US Senior Open, as long as the USGA does not say otherwise, something that seems unlikely. The week of the US Senior Open does not have a tournament in LIV Golf, so his presence should not be ruled out.
