Cleeks lose collective momentum at England event where veteran Bland fares best
ROCESTER, England – After performing impressively in four consecutive tournaments, Cleeks GC lost some momentum at LIV Golf UK before finishing well down the team leaderboard in 11th place on Sunday.
Veteran Richard Bland was their best performer in the final round at JCB Golf & Country Club, rebounding from three bogeys in his first 10 holes with five successive birdies from the par-5 10th to card a 2-under 69.
That left the 51-year-old Englishman in a two-way tie for 14th place at 7-under - six shots behind winner Jon Rahm of Legion XIII.
Adrian Meronk, the 2023 DP World Tour Player of the Year, was one stroke back after closing with a 70 that included an eagle at the par-5 third, two birdies and three bogeys.
Captain Martin Kaymer signed off with a 73 and LIV Golf Promotions winner Kalle Samooja with a 74 as the Cleeks collectively posted a 2-over aggregate on the day.
All in all, a disappointing conclusion to the week after the all-European combination had strung together five successive points finishes - the longest streak in the team's LIV Golf history.
The Cleeks currently sit eighth in the points standings - 58.5 points outside third place, which is the final seed to earn a first-round bye for the season-ending Team Championship to be played at Maridoe Golf Club in Texas from September 20-22.
Having finished second, first, T-6, T-6 and 11th in their last five LIV Golf starts, the Cleeks are running out of time to secure a coveted top-three spot with just two tournaments left in the regular season.
Bland, however, has an optimistic "glass half-full" mentality and he firmly believes that his team is capable of hitting a few more high points before the 2024 season ends.
"Our success in Houston just shows you the group of guys we've got, the team spirit, and what we're capable of," he said, referring to the Cleeks' first-ever team victory at last month's LIV Golf Houston. "We're going to do this again."
Bland was in upbeat mood heading into LIV Golf UK. He was born in nearby Burton upon Trent and he won the 2021 British Masters at The Belfry, which is located just 40 miles from JCB Golf & Country Club.
Add to that the fact that he has triumphed twice this year in his first two starts in the over-50 ranks - at the Senior PGA Championship and Senior U.S. Open Championship - and it is no surprise that he was oozing confidence before Friday's opening round.
"The confidence is pretty good," said Bland with a smile. "I've been pretty consistent all year and I don't see why that should change. Obviously winning is always great. You learn new things about yourself, how you handle yourself. We all make mistakes, and usually that costs us the chance of winning, and you learn from that, of course. But I think you also can learn from winning, what kind of mindset you were in, what frame of mind you were in, what you did well, what you didn't do well.
"It will just make you better for the next time you're in that position. It doesn't mean to say that you're going to win the next one, but it just gives you more calmness that if you are in that situation again you know you can handle it, that you can do it. It gives you the best opportunity to do it again."
Bland's tie for 14th at JCB Golf & Country Club kept him inside the Lock Zone in 22nd place in the season-long points standings. Players finishing in the top 24 after the September 13-15 Individual Championship in Chicago secure their spots in the 2025 LIV Golf League.
"I need to finish top 24," said Bland. "I'm pretty confident I'll be playing on the Cleeks next year, but I've got to play good golf like I have been."