British Masters 2021 R4
May 12-15
The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England
£1,850,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 3

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

At the age of 48 and in his 478th attempt, Richard Bland has claimed his first European Tour title in a playoff at the 2021 Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett.

British Masters 2021 R4

He arrived at The Belfry third on the list of players with most appearances without a win and revealed he was thinking about the seniors game but he demonstrated on Sunday he could still best much younger players.

Bland birdied his final hole to close with a 66 to reach 13-under and take the clubhouse lead while 24-year-old Guido Migliozzi closed with a 68 to join him in the playoff. Bland parred the first extra hole and Migliozzi three-putted for a bogey.

British Masters 2021 R4

"It’s probably going to take a few days to sink in. It’s what I’ve worked for for 20 years. That’s what we all work for, to win out here and try and prove yourself. I’ve had a few close calls and I assume someone up there was looking down on me quite favourably today. It was just my day."

"I kept telling myself on the last I thought 13 would be a really good score. There was maybe two or three guys on 11. Especially if the weather stayed how it was. We played the last three holes in the worst of the weather as well. I thought if it stays like this then the par fives are playing pretty long. They’re not giveaway birdies. To hole that putt on the last, I don’t think I saw it go in. I knew it was in with about a foot to go. I think I turned to the left to celebrate before it had even gone in. I’d have looked silly if it’d missed. Fortunately it went in."

British Masters 2021 R4

Bland made his European Tour debut at the 1998 Open Championship and has achieved three second places, two thirds and 26 other top tens since.

He was a European Challenge Tour graduate in 2001, 2004 and 2008 and also came through the Qualifying School in 2007 and 2011 before finishing in a then career high 27th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in 2016.

He had to return to the Challenge Tour after losing his Tour card in 2018 and become the oldest ever graduate at the age of 46.

British Masters 2021 R4

"I've done it," said an emotional Bland as he was interviewed by long time coach Tim Barter, who was clearly emotional himself.

"My game had been trending in the right way and I'd worked really hard, as you know we've worked so hard on the wedges."

"I just drove the ball so well this week, I've gone back to my old driver. Round here - especially for me, I'm not the longest on Tour - I've got to hit fairways and I've probably missed single digit fairways all week."

British Masters 2021 R4