Bland wins British Masters in playoff to end 25-year wait

England’s Richard Bland celebrates with the trophy after winning the European Tour British Masters at the The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, Britain, yesterday. (Reuters)

Richard Bland won his first European Tour title at the 478th attempt after beating Guido Migliozzi in a playoff at the British Masters yesterday. Bland, 48, and Migliozzi finished on 13 under par after 72 holes at The Belfry to force the playoff in which the Englishman parred the first extra hole while his Italian opponent made a bogey. “I’ve done it,” an emotional Bland, who turned professional in 1996, said after becoming the oldest first-time winner on the European Tour. “My game had been tending in the right way and I’d worked really hard, as you know we’ve worked so hard on the wedges. I just drove the ball so well this week, I’ve gone back to my old driver. The round here — especially for me, I’m not the longest on Tour — I’ve got to hit fairways and I’ve probably missed single digit fairways all week.” Bland made only one bogey in his four rounds, on the third day. Bland landed his maiden Tour title at the 478th attempt after he parred the first extra hole at The Belfry while Migliozzi three-putted from long range. The 48-year-old carded a superb final round of 66 to set the clubhouse target on 13 under par. Birdies on the 15th and 16th gave Migliozzi a share of the lead and he then found the green in two on the par-five 17th, but the Italian missed from five feet for birdie after lipping out from long range for an eagle. Migliozzi’s tee shot on the 18th plugged in the wet grass on the edge of a bunker. After receiving a free drop, the 24-year-old hit his approach into a greenside bunker and got up and down to force extra holes. It wasn’t enough to stop Bland making history on a dramatic final day. England’s Eddie Pepperell had taken a one-shot lead into the final round but the 2018 champion could only manage a closing 73 to fall back into a tie for 11th with tournament host Danny Willett. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, the top-ranked player in the field, held a share of the lead after birdies on the second and third. The world number 45 eventually signed for a 71 to finish joint eighth with compatriot Calum Hill and Edoardo Molinari.   Mikko Korhonen, Dave Coupland and Adrian Meronk finished third, one stroke behind Bland and Migliozzi with Andy Sullivan and Dean Burmester one stroke further back.Final round scores (GBR and IRL unless stated, par 72): 275 — Richard Bland 68, 69, 72, 66; Guido Migliozzi (ITA) 68, 72, 67, 68 — Bland won play-off at the first extra hole 276 — Mikko Korhonen (FIN) 70, 71, 68, 67; Adrian Meronk (POL) 70, 72, 65, 69; David Coupland 71, 69, 68, 68 277 — Dean Burmester (RSA) 69, 73, 65, 70; Andy Sullivan 69, 71, 68, 69 278 — Robert MacIntyre 71, 66, 70, 71; Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 71, 72, 64, 71; Calum Hill 67, 70, 70, 71 279 — Danny Willett 69, 72, 68, 70; Chris Wood 69, 72, 68, 70; Eddie Pepperell 70, 68, 68, 73; Renato Paratore (ITA) 73, 70, 70, 66; Matthias Schwab (AUT) 66, 75, 67, 71; Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 73, 69, 71, 66 280 — Jordan Smith 71, 69, 69, 71; Andrew Johnston 71, 71, 68, 70