England’s Richard Bland gained his second consecutive senior main title with a nerve-wracking victory within the US Senior Open.
Bland edged out Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita on the second gap of sudden demise after the pair had completed tied on 13 below par and couldn’t be separated by a two-hole combination play-off.
Each males parred the primary gap of sudden demise earlier than returning to the 18th, the place Bland hit the pin along with his third shot from a greenside bunker to depart a tap-in par for victory after Fujita narrowly missed his personal par try.
“That is very particular,” Bland mentioned on the presentation ceremony. “I’m struggling to place this into phrases proper now.”
Fujita held a three-shot lead after 10 holes when the ultimate spherical was suspended attributable to harmful climate on Sunday afternoon.
At that time the 55-year-old had made simply two bogeys all week, however when play resumed on Monday he dropped pictures on the eleventh, twelfth and 14th as Bland – within the group forward – adopted a bogey on the thirteenth with birdies on 14 and 15.
That gave Bland a one-shot lead however he bogeyed the 18th and will solely look on as Fujita got here agonisingly near holing a protracted birdie putt for the win.
“I made an excellent birdie on 15 to go one in entrance however sort of tried to journey over myself on the final and was simply grateful to get within the play-off,” Bland mentioned.
“The lure shot was a type of you possibly can be actually aggressive with and I’m simply thrilled past phrases to be stood right here. To go two-for-two [in senior majors] is past my wildest goals.”
Bland devoted his Senior PGA Championship win in Could to his brother Heath, who was recognized with abdomen most cancers simply over a 12 months in the past and not too long ago discovered he had most cancers within the lungs.
Talking as he cradled the US Open trophy, Bland joked: “He can have the PGA however I’m sorry, he’s not going to get this one out of my arms. This one’s staying in my home.”
Bland gained his first DP World Tour occasion in his 478th begin within the 2021 British Masters and joined LIV Golf throughout its debut season in 2022.
As issues stand, the 51-year-old will probably be unable to contest the Senior Open at Carnoustie later this month as he’s contracted to play the LIV occasion close to Uttoxeter in the identical week.
