“People have been slated” – Richard Bland admits joining LIV Golf was purely for money

Richard Bland's fortunes have gone up since he joined LIV Golf.

“People have been slated” – Richard Bland admits joining LIV Golf was purely for money

Richard Bland is slated to make more this year (Image via golf.com)

Richard Bland has openly confessed that joining the contentious LIV Golf was solely for financial reasons. Since making the transition, the 51-year-old golfer has made more than $11.5 million and continues to add to that total

Bland earned almost $3.5 million in LIV Golf’s initial season, and over $4.4 million in 2023. In 2024, he earned another $2.3 million, including $630,000 for winning the Senior PGA and $800,000 in the US Senior Open.

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Recently during an interview with Golf Monthly, Bland explained that unlike other high-profile players in the league, LIV Golf did not offer him a signing bonus. He admitted that he needed to consult with his wife and family, but it was ultimately an easy decision for him.

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I joined LIV and it was purely for the money. I know people have been slated, you know, 'it's growing the game, it's doing this doing that, whatever. I purely went for one thing and one thing only, and I'm not ashamed to say that. I had the opportunity to make my life, my family's life and whatever we do as a family a lot more easier. So as I say it was a no brainer.
Richard Bland said

Bland mentioned that he was not trying to deceive anyone about his reasons for joining LIV, stating clearly and honestly that it was all about the money. He believed it was a straightforward decision given the significant financial benefits involved.

He also revealed that around one-third of his supporters disapproved of his decision, which he described as “absolutely fine.” He added that anyone would do the same if offered a large sum of money.

Richard Bland has made big money in his career

Richard Bland turned professional in 1996. His big breakthrough came in 2001 when he won his first Challenge Tour event at the Grand Final. He earned his European Tour card the following year.

Bland would go on to win his first European Tour event much later at the Betfred British Masters in 2021, becoming the oldest first-time winner on the European Tour.

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In 2022, Bland joined the LIV Golf Invitational Series. He has surpassed high-profile signings like Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood in earnings on the Saudi-backed circuit. His best performance on the LIV Golf tour was a fourth-place finish in Bangkok during the inaugural season, where he shot a score of -14.

According to DP World Tour, Richard Bland has made €7,992,521.31 from prize money alone. His net worth has grown dramatically after joining LIV Golf and is expected to reach approximately $4 million by 2024.

Bland has performed admirably throughout the 2024 LIV Golf season. He placed 11th in the Mayakoba tournament, 18th in Las Vegas, 34th in Jeddah, and 8th in Hong Kong.

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