Over the weekend, LIV Golf star Richard Bland earned victory at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores, in Michigan. Typically, this victory would have earned him a customary one-year PGA Tour Champions exemption, but he will not be receiving that exemption for one reason: he plays for LIV Golf.
Richard Bland currently competes on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, which is still in a rivalry with the PGA Tour despite ongoing talks about a possible allegiance between the two competing leagues. So as a result of his allegiance to LIV Golf, the PGA of America has decided that he will not receive the customary PGA Tour Champions exemption.
“In spite of the win, because of competing in an unauthorized event by the PGA TOUR, he will be ineligible for TOUR-affiliated events,” the Tour said in a statement regarding the situation, according to Bob Harig. “The PGA of America, USGA and R&A each operate based on criteria of their own.”
Obviously, this is a pretty brutal decision and it led to a lot of reactions on social media.
At this point, the PGA Tour should cut its losses and let Richard Bland play in the Senior PGA Tour. What harm comes from it. I can see some wonderful benefits. 1 – It shows grace and/or forgiveness 2- Bland may actually choose Senior PGA over LIV. #start #competing https://t.co/qtmmo2e5vv
— Paul Petruska (@PaulPetruska) May 27, 2024
Fire everyone on the PGA board https://t.co/5QV6SEnE6R
— Jaymin Fenton (@JayminFenton) May 27, 2024
People ask me how the PGA Tour is a monopoly.
What a complete joke they all are: Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour, and all the ghouls in my replies that defend it. https://t.co/4HWq4JDkOW
— Sekrah (@sekrah) May 26, 2024
It took just a matter of hours for the PGA Tour Champions to confirm Richard Bland will not be eligible to play in their events despite earning an exemption via his win at the Senior PGA Championship. It’s such a shame that this is where we are in golf right now. https://t.co/wiYKY5rfon
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) May 27, 2024
Golf has fallen off a cliff. Who cares. https://t.co/bqwU8hiTV7
— Smart T. Jones (@exhaustedBS) May 27, 2024
They don’t want the best golfers https://t.co/Qq3ooCJ0SM
— E. J. Ouellette (@EJOuellette2) May 26, 2024
Needless to say, it does not sound like this decision from the PGA Tour was all that popular among golf fans.
