Richard Bland Will Remain Banned Through August 2027
The senior major champion faces an extended exclusion from the PGA Tour Champions following his move to LIV Golf.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Golf
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Richard Bland will remain banned from the PGA Tour Champions until August 2027, preventing the two-time senior major winner from competing on the senior circuit. The professional golfer remains committed to LIV Golf after signing with the league in June 2022.
Why it matters
Bland refuses to return to the DP World Tour to avoid starting from the bottom, even as LIV Golf undergoes significant financial restructuring following the withdrawal of funding from PIF in April 2026.
LIV Golf event prize money has decreased from $20 million to $10.1 million, with winner shares falling from $4 million to $2.2 million. Additionally, the league expanded its tournament field size from 57 to 75 players while transitioning to 72-hole structures.
The players
Richard Bland
He is a professional golfer who won both the 2024 Senior PGA Championship and the 2024 US Senior Open.
Jon Rahm
He is a professional golfer who previously competed for LIV Golf before terminating his contract and paying fines to the DP World Tour.
Sergio Garcia
He is a veteran professional golfer who successfully terminated his LIV Golf contract through bankruptcy court proceedings.
LIV Golf
This is a professional golf circuit that is currently navigating Chapter 11 bankruptcy and significant funding changes.
The details
Despite winning two senior major titles in 2024, Bland remains tied to a league currently facing bankruptcy proceedings that have already seen players like Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia terminate their contracts. The DP World Tour continues to enforce bans on conditional releases for golfers associated with the rival circuit.
Timeline
Richard Bland signed with LIV Golf in June 2022.
Bland won two senior major titles in 2024.
PIF withdrew its funding from LIV Golf in April 2026.
The deadline for player commitments to LIV Golf is October 25, 2026.
Bland's ban from the PGA Tour Champions lasts until August 2027.
Season Trajectory
The potential collapse of the LIV Golf league due to funding cuts and player departures creates significant uncertainty regarding the professional golf ecosystem and future tournament fields. This instability forces players like Bland into a career holding pattern while the sport navigates its most fractured state in decades.
Bland is effectively locked out of the senior major circuit for the next several years, precluding any additional PGA Tour Champions earnings. The transition to a 72-hole format and reduced prize pools significantly lowers the potential tournament income for players remaining in the LIV Golf ecosystem.
The takeaway
The ongoing financial distress of the LIV Golf league demonstrates the high stakes for veteran golfers who chose to leave traditional tours. Players must weigh the long-term career consequences of league bans against the volatile financial realities of newer professional circuits.
What happens next
LIV Golf players face a critical deadline for commitment to the league on October 25, 2026, which may determine the future viability of the organization.
Further reading
For more on the current state of professional circuits, visit the Golf section.
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