![LIV Golf pro wins Senior PGA on debut as PGA Tour denies shutdown rumors LIV Golf pro wins Senior PGA on debut as PGA Tour denies shutdown rumors](https://i2.wp.com/cdn.golfmagic.com/styles/xl/s3/2024-05/LIVGOLF321.jpg?itok=wehiYu1r&w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1)
He PGA Tour the English professional LIV Golf has confirmed Richard Bland will not receive the usual one-year exemption from PGA Tour Champions for winning the Senior PGA Championship on Sunday.
The update was provided by Sports Illustrated’s Bob Harig on Twitter.
Bland, 51, closed with an impressive 63 in his senior debut to record a three-stroke victory at 17 under par at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores in Michigan.
Richard Bland
Typically, Senior PGA winners would receive a one-year exemption from PGA Tour Champions as a reward for their efforts.
Golf fans on social media had some hope that the PGA Tour champions would move on and still honor Bland.
But the PGA Tour has confirmed that Bland No receive a one-year exemption as a result of being a LIV Golf player.
All PGA Tour members who have joined LIV Golf since its launch in the summer of 2022 remain suspended from the North American tour.
Bland plays for Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks GC in the Saudi-funded breakaway league, but received an invitation to the Senior PGA from the PGA of America.
He was able to participate in the tournament since LIV Golf had a free week on the calendar.
The Englishman picked up a fresh $630,000 for his victory in the 2024 Senior PGA Championship.
Bland likely won’t be too disappointed that he’s ineligible for a season on the PGA Tour Champions, especially considering he’s accumulated 9.8 million dollars at LIV Golf since it joined in 2022.
Sports Illustrated’s Harig confirmed the news that Bland will not be eligible for a one-year exemption from PGA Tour Champions.
Despite not earning an exemption on the 50-and-over tour thanks to his impressive victory at the Senior PGA, Bland willpower Be exempt for the US Senior Open at Newport Country Club (June 27-30) and the Senior Open at Carnoustie (July 25-28).
Harig confirmed via Twitter:
Richard Bland’s victory at the Senior PGA Championship won’t come with the usual one-year exemption from the PGA Tour Champions because he plays for LIV Golf.
From the tour:
“Despite the victory, because he competed in a non-sanctioned PGA TOUR event, he will not be eligible for TOUR-affiliated events. The PGA of America, the USGA and the R&A each operate according to their own criteria.”
Bland won his only DP World Tour title at the 2021 British Masters at The Belfry, a victory that made him the oldest first-time winner on the circuit at the age of 48.
The Englishman decided to terminate his DP World Tour card last season.
Bland has recorded a top-10 finish in seven LIV Golf appearances in 2024.
This came with T8 in Hong Kong in March.
The next LIV Golf event will be held in Houston on June 7-9.
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