Bland desperate to avoid 'golfing hell'
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| Richard Bland |
RICHARD Bland is desperate to avoid going through professional golf's equivalent of "hell on earth" again this year.
After a disappointing 2007 season, the 35-year-old regained his European Tour card by successfully coming through the emotionally draining qualifying school last year.
But Stoneham's Bland has struggled for consistency on the main tour this season and is some way short of earning enough on it to secure his card again.
As a result, he has opted to drop down onto the Challenge Tour.
Bland has been in sensational form since making the decision, producing four top ten finishes in a row.
Last weekend's tied seventh finish in the Trophée du Golf Club de Genève left him 12th in the season's overall rankings.
The top 20 earn a European Tour card for next season.
However, only the top ten earn a better exemption status for the entire year than those successful in qualifying school.
Bland is fully focused on that top ten, so he can avoid another end-of-season trip to Spain for Tour school.
"It's a way forward, but it's not the best way," he said.
"Your whole livelihood's on the line.
"It's six rounds and it's just a real grind the whole week.
"In golfing terms, it's hell on earth and I'm sure the other 180 guys that tee it up will say the same.
Full story in this week's Romsey Advertiser. Plus - what made Justin Rose turn down the chance of £5 million.
5:00pm Thursday 21st August 2008
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