Over the weekend, Richard Bland earned victory at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores, in Michigan which typically would have earned him a customary one-year PGA Tour Champions exemption, but he will not be getting that exemption as a result of his allegiance with LIV Golf.
Richard Bland competes on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit, which is still at odds with the PGA Tour despite talks of an alliance in the future. As a result of his allegiance to LIV Golf, the PGA of America has decided not to give him the customary one-year 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.”
After winning the event this weekend, Bland will return to LIV Golf action in Houston next month. He will still be eligible to compete in the Senior US Open at Newport Country Club next month if he chooses to do that, but he will not get the customary PGA Tour Champions exemption.
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