CHICAGO PREVIEW: BLAND SEEKS TO CONTINUE GOOD FORM
Richard Bland will enter LIV Golf Chicago off his best stretch of the season, giving hope for another podium finish as he eyes a continued move up the individual standings.
The 51-year-old Englishman has finished 6th, 3rd and 11th in his last three LIV Golf starts, with his podium finish at Greenbrier the first for any Cleeks player this season.
As a result of his good play, Bland has moved inside the top 24 in points who will be guaranteed spots in next year’s LIV Golf League at the end of the regular season. He’s currently 22nd entering this week.
With two regular-season events left, Bland has the opportunity to claim a guaranteed spot with solid showings in Chicago and next month in Jeddah.
Last year in Chicago, Bland tied for 18th on the traditional leaderboard, shooting 72-70-71 at Rich Harvest Farms.
After just missing out on a points finish in Bedminster, Cleeks GC will look to climb back into the top eight on the team leaderboard.
The Cleeks claimed points in the previous two tournaments but finished one stroke out of points last month in New Jersey. The Cleeks are currently in 12th place in the season-long team points race.
Graeme McDowell comes off his best points finish of the season with a 12th in Bedminster and hopes to build on that in Chicago.
Meanwhile, Bernd Wiesberger hopes to continue his streak of three-putt avoidance holes at 123, the longest active streak among any LIV Golf player.
Wiesberger is 44th in the points standings and must remain 44th or better after Jeddah in order to avoid relegation.
Captain Martin Kaymer, making his ninth start of the season after returning from wrist surgery, is seeking his first points-producing result this year. Kaymer’s best finish was a 25th in points at LIV Golf DC.