Player Profiles: John Bland

John Bland

John Bland won twice on the European Tour (1983 Benson and Hedges International Open and 1986 Suze Open) and over 20 times in his homeland. Since joining the senior circuit, he has enjoyed a remarkable career in the USA and Europe.

Bland won first time out as a Senior at the 1995 London Seniors Masters before crossing the Atlantic to win the Ralphs Seniors Classic. During 1996, in his first full season among the over 50s, he won four times in America and claimed the US Champions Tour Rookie of the Year Award. However, he says the biggest thrill of his whole career came in 1996 when he played with Arnold Palmer for the first time at US Senior PGA Championship. He won his second Champions Tour title in 2009 at the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open, defeating Bob Boyd in a play-off, nearly 14 years after his first victory. At 63, he became the second oldest winner in Senior Tour history behind Neil Coles. A share of tenth place in the Casa Serena Open was the highlight of his 2008 season – one of four top 20 finishes en route to finishing 37th in the Order of Merit. The South African has also come agonisingly close to winning The Senior Open Championship, having finished second in the event three times.

Bland received the Lawrence Batley Trophy in recognition of being the highest-placed golfer over the age of 60 on the 2007 European Seniors Tour Order of Merit.