Richard Bland literally saw a dream come true when he won his first European Tour title at the 478th time of asking at the 2021 Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett - it just wasn't his.
Of course it had been a career ambition to finally win after graduating from the European Challenge Tour four times and Qualifying School twice, but the actual dreaming was left to Bland's fellow professional and friend David Howell.
"I think it was after the first round because I had played well, and he said: ‘I had a dream about you last night and you’re winning a tournament’," said Bland as he faced the press following his victory.
"So it wasn’t necessarily this tournament but he said he had a dream where I had won a tournament and that kind of just stayed with me today, it really did.
"I just said to myself, make the dream come true."
The road to making that dream come true has been a long one and it is fair to say it has not always been easy.
Bland made his European Tour debut with a 99th placed finish at the 1998 Open Championship but he would not secure his place on Tour until his first successful graduation from the Challenge Tour in 2001.
He won the Challenge Tour Grand Final en route and in his rookie European Tour season he lost out in a play-off at the Irish Open.
His tally of professional wins would stay at one for the next 19 years.
Further successful Challenge Tour campaigns would come in 2004 and 2008, along with progressing from the Qualifying School in 2007 and 2011 as Bland established himself on the European Tour without truly breaking through.
In 2016 he finished a career best 27th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex but just over a year later, Bland's brother Heath was placed in an induced coma for a month with a life threatening illness.
"He was pretty seriously ill back a few Christmases ago, he was in a coma for a month and there were a few dark days for the whole family," said Bland.
He lost his card in 2018 and was faced with a return to the Challenge Tour at the age of 46.
"My brother was ill, so my mind wasn’t on golf for the first four or five months of the year," he said of his 2018 season. "This is one for him as well.
"It took a lot of guts to go back to the Challenge Tour at 46 years old. You’re probably old enough to be most of the guys’ father.
"I got my head down, I’m pretty good at that. When I put my mind to something I can just get my head down and go and do it. That’s what I did.
"I don’t quit. Even if I’m having a bad day - you might be frustrated by it - but you never throw the towel in because you never know in this game what’s round the corner
"I know I’ve got to go to places I don’t want to go to, but I knew there was unfinished business out here."
Bland may have hopped between Tours in his career but his team has stayed the same, with Tim Barter serving as his coach and friend for many years.
Barter combines his coaching with a role in broadcasting and it was fitting that he was the first man to interview Bland after he defeated Guido Migliozzi in a play-off, with both men visibly emotional.
"To have Tim here... we’ve been together for 20 years," said Bland. "He’s a really close friend of mine, regardless of him being my coach.
"To have him here on the 18th green with me makes it extra special. This is as much his as it is mine, with the work we’ve put in. He’s always believed in me more than I’ve believed in myself, he’s always been telling me that. It’s paid off."
Coach and Player. A dream finally realised.#BetfredBritishMasters pic.twitter.com/2QGxj77xWA
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) May 15, 2021
Arriving at The Belfry this week, Bland was third on the list of the European Tour's all time leading appearance makers without a win.
After nearly 23 years and 477 events, Bland himself admitted that he had one eye on the seniors game, but anyone who read that as accepting defeat was underestimating the Englishman.
"I don’t quit," he said. "Even if I’m having a bad day - you might be frustrated by it - but you never throw the towel in because you never know in this game what’s round the corner.
"I always knew I could do it. Some of my friends out here have won. You think if they can win, surely I can do it. I’ve left it a little late, but better late than never.
"It’s what I’ve worked for for 20 years. That’s what we all work for, to win out here and try and prove yourself. I’ve had a few close calls and I assume someone up there was looking down on me quite favourably today. It was just my day."
As for the future, Bland is eyeing the exclusive 500 Club on the European Tour and with that a second victory.
"A big incentive for me was that I wanted to get to 500 events, this will allow me to do that, which I’ll be hugely proud of," he said. "To play 500 events out here is a pretty good career.
"I’m just pleased that I proved myself - that I can do it. Whether I get to do it again, I hope so.
"Who knows? I hope there may be another one. It might be like buses, two come along in quick succession. Right now I’m really pleased I’ve got my hands on this one."
