Figures from the golfing world and beyond have been taking to social media to congratulate Richard Bland after he ended his long wait for a European Tour victory at the 2021 Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett.
Richard Bland is a winner at last after claiming his first European Tour title at the 478th time of asking in a play-off at The Belfry.
Nearly 23 years after making his debut, the four time European Challenge Tour and two time Qualifying School graduate finally got over the line with a par on the first extra hole against Guido Migliozzi.
The 48-year-old has clearly made a lot of friends on the course and gained a lot of fans off it in that time, and many of them took to Twitter to congratulate him after his emotional victory.
Today I saw something that inspired me and reminded me of why golf is the greatest game. Richard Bland who hadnโt won in his previous 478 professional starts wins the #britishmasters in a playoff on the @europeantour. Congrats @blandy73 on the first and wishing you many more!
— fredcouplesgolf (@fredcouplesgolf) May 15, 2021
478 tournaments for his first win. Woohoo @blandy73 !!!!!!! Magic moment pal. ๐พ๐พ๐พ
— Tony Johnstone (@TonyJohnstone56) May 15, 2021
Iโm so pleased for @blandy73 - unbelievable performance by one of the golden oldies. Youโve done it. Well done mate - so very deserved ๐ @EuropeanTour
— Thomas Bjรธrn (@thomasbjorngolf) May 15, 2021
Absolutely awesome to watch @blandy73 win. Works so hard at the game and deserves this win so so much ๐ #BetfredBritishMasters
— Laurie Canter (@LaurieCanter) May 15, 2021
Congratulations @blandy73 ๐ @british_masters Champion
— Justin ROSE (@JustinRose99) May 15, 2021
Absolutely chuffed to bits for @blandy73 ๐ well done pal on your first win @EuropeanTour ๐
— Paul Lawrie (@PaulLawriegolf) May 15, 2021
What a finish at the @british_masters! So happy to see to @blandy73 get an amazing first @europeantour win at the tender age of 48!!! Well done @Danny_Willett ๐
— Tommy Fleetwood (@TommyFleetwood1) May 15, 2021
@blandy73 a truly wonderful day for you and your supporters. A story of belief, desire and courage. A journey with humps and bumps, ups and downs, but you finally arrived at where you belong. My sincere congratulations.๐
— Ewen Murray (@ewenmurray77) May 15, 2021
@blandy73 @EuropeanTour @TitleistEurope @british_masters @Betfred What an achievement at 48years young. A lesson in perseverance for us all. Congratulations Richard. I canโt think after all those dinners for 15 years weโve had anyone who deserves this win more. #winner
— anthony wall (@awallgolfer) May 15, 2021
Congratulations to @blandy73 terrific golfing. ๐๐ผ๐๐ผโโ๏ธ๐พ
— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) May 15, 2021
Congrats Blandy ๐๐๐๐ @blandy73 @EuropeanTour . Congrats Danny @Danny_Willett also on another great @british_masters edition
— Paul McGinley (@mcginleygolf) May 15, 2021
So happy for my Old partner @blandy73 on winning the @british_masters also @timbartergolf his coach for keeping it together๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป๐ญ๐บ๐
— Stephen Gallacher (@stevieggolf) May 15, 2021
Well done @blandy73 ๐๐๐๐
— Mikko Korhonen (@Karhanen) May 15, 2021
Congrats @blandy73! Absolutely fantastic to see!
— Matt Fitzpatrick (@MattFitz94) May 15, 2021
And it wasn't just the golfing world, Bland's friend and former footballer Matt Le Tissier revealed he was reduced to tears by the win.
No words except @blandy73 pic.twitter.com/UkiCx1i1i4
— Matt Le Tissier๐ธ (@mattletiss7) May 15, 2021
And Stephen Fry showed his support, too.
If at first you donโt succeed โฆ @blandy73 Richard Bland has just won the British Masters at 48 years old, his first ever win. 478 tournaments as a professional. Everyone on the European Tour cheering him on. Much weeping. Terrific. And now for the FA Cup. ๐ฆ
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) May 15, 2021
