Who's who: John Bland

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: John Bland

  • Name:

    John Louis Bland
  • Country:

    South Africa
  • Lived:

    [1945-2023]. Born on Sept 22, 1945 in Johannesburg, S Africa. Died on May 9, 2023 in George, S Africa (aged 77).
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1969

Roll of Honour

Multiple winner on the Sunshine Tour (19), European Tour (2), Champions Tour (5), European Senior Tour (3), and other international tours. Four-time Southern Africa Tour Order of Merit winner (1977-78, 1987-88, 1989-90, 1990-91). Champions Tour Tookie of the Year (1996).

Did you know?

After turning professional in 1969 aged 24, John Bland developed his formidable golfing skills on the Southern Africa Tour, where he recorded 19 wins between 1977 and 1991. During much success in the 1980s, he also collected two wins on the European Tour.

Particularly noted for his short game skills, Bland continued his successful career after turning 50, with several wins on the PGA Champions Tour and European Senior Tour. In 1997 he came close to winning a first major championship, losing out to fellow countryman Gary Player in a playoff for the Senior British Open at Royal Portrush.

Top tournaments won by John Bland

2010
Europe
208 (-8)
€90,090
x

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Score

208 (-8)

Prize money

€90,090

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open (June 18-20). Second-placed Angel Franco (Para) and Chris Williams (RSA) finished 1 shot behind 64-year old Bland (RSA), who claimed his third European Snr Tour win. [Royal Porthcawl GC, Mid Glamorgan, Wales].

2009
Europe
199 (-11)
€33,000
Bad Ragaz

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Score

199 (-11)

Prize money

€33,000

Title sponsor

Bad Ragaz

Played as the Bad Ragaz PGA Seniors Open (Aug 7-9). John Bland (RSA) beat Bob Boyd (USA) with a birdie at the second playoff hole, to record his second European Senior Tour win ... 14 yrs after his first. [GC Bad Ragaz, Switzerland].

1997
America
PGA West (Palmer)
192 (-24)
$100,000
Liberty Mutual

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Venue

PGA West (Palmer)

Score

192 (-24)

Prize money

$100,000

Title sponsor

Liberty Mutual

Played as the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (March 21-23; unofficial two-man better-ball team event). Second-placed Gil Morgan (USA) & Hubert Green (USA) finished 3 shots behind John Bland (RSA) & Graham Marsh (Aus). [Palmer (private) course, PGA West, La Quinta, CA].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Score

207 (-9)

Prize money

$151,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Puerto Rico Senior Tournament of Champions (Jan 18-21; Senior PGA Tour season-opener). Second-placed and defending champion Jim Colbert (USA) finished 1 shot behind John Bland (RSA), who recorded his second Senior PGA Tour win. [East course, TPC Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico; at the time known as Dorado Beach Resort].].

1996
America
Meadow Brook, NY
202 (-14)
$120,000
Northville

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Venue

Meadow Brook, NY

Score

202 (-14)

Prize money

$120,000

Title sponsor

Northville

Played as the Northville Long Island Classic (Aug 16-18). Second-placed Jim Colbert (USA) finished 3 shots behind Bland (RSA). [Meadow Brook Club, Jericho, Long Island, NY].

1996
America
Greystone G&CC
208 (-8)
$157,500
Bruno's

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Venue

Greystone G&CC

Score

208 (-8)

Prize money

$157,500

Title sponsor

Bruno's

Played as Bruno's Memorial Classic (May 31-Jun 2). Bland (RSA) beat John Paul Cain (USA) with a bogey at the third playoff hole; Kermit Zarley (USA) was eliminated at the second playoff hole. [Greystone G&CC, Birmingham, Alabama].

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Score

204 (-12)

Prize money

$105,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as The Transamerica (Oct 11-13). Second-placed Jim Colbert (USA) finished 1 shot behind Bland (RSA), who recorded the last of his five Snr PGA Tour wins. [South course, Silverado Resort, Napa, California].

1996
Awards
$1,357,987
see Score
Snr PGA Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Venue

Score

$1,357,987

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Snr PGA Tr

Bland (RSA) won the Senior PGA Tour 1996 Rookie of the Year Award as the leading first-season player, based on the votes of his peers. He finished third on the Tour's money list, with earnings of $1,357,987.

1995
America
Wilshire CC
201 (-12)
$120,000
Ralphs

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Venue

Wilshire CC

Score

201 (-12)

Prize money

$120,000

Title sponsor

Ralphs

Played as the Ralphs Senior Classic (Oct 20-22). Second-placed Jim Colbert (USA) finished 1 shot behind first-time Snr PGA Tour winner Bland (RSA). [Wilshire CC, Los Angeles, California].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Score

210

Prize money

£13,350

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural London Masters. Second-placed Bobby Verwey (RSA), Hugh Inggs (RSA), John Morgan (Eng) and Tony Grubb (Eng) finished 4 shots behind Bland (RSA), who became the youngest winner on the Eurpn Snr Tr at 50 years 9 days. [Intl course, London GC, Ash, Kent, England].

1990
Awards
R333,637
see Score
S Africa Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Venue

Score

R333,637

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

S Africa Tr

1990/91 South Africa Tour Order of Merit. Won for the fourth time in his career by Bland (RSA) with season earnings of R333,637. Fultom Allen (RSA) was second with R190,090; Wayne Westner (RSA) was third with R168,158.

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

S Africa Tr

1989/90 South Africa Tour Order of Merit. Won for the third time in his career by Bland (RSA).

1988
Africa
275 (-13)
Safmarine

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

Title sponsor

Safmarine

Played as the Safmarine South African Masters. Tony Johnstone (Zim) finished in second place behind Bland (RSA). [Stellenbosch GC, Western Cape, RSA].

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

S Africa Tr

1987/88 South Africa Tour Order of Merit. Won for the second time in his career by Bland (RSA).

1986
Europe
276 (-12)
£17,003
Suze

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

£17,003

Title sponsor

Suze

Played as the Suze Open (April 17-20). Second-placed Seve Ballesteros (Esp) finished 4 shots behind Bland (RSA), who recorded the second of his two European Tour wins. [Cannes Mougins GCC, Mougins, nr Cannes, France].

1983
Europe
273 (-15)
£18,330
Benson & Hedges

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Venue

Fulford

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

£18,330

Title sponsor

Benson & Hedges

Played as the Benson & Hedges International Open (Aug 18-21). Second-placed Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 1 shot behind first-time European Tour winner Bland (RSA). [Fulford GC, York, North Yorkshire].

1977
Africa
275 (-13)
US$10,000
Lexington

Category

Africa

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

US$10,000

Title sponsor

Lexington

Played as the Lexington PGA Championship. Second-placed Gary Player (RSA) finished 2 shots behind Bland (RSA). [The Wanderers GC, Ilovo, Johannesburg, RSA].

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Bland, John

Venue

Score

Prize money

Title sponsor

S Africa Tr

1977/78 South Africa Tour Order of Merit. Won by Bland (RSA).

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