Robert TheodorsonCongressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD will host the 2025 Senior PGA Championship. LIV’s very own Richard Bland, last year’s victor, will seek to defend his title against top competition at one of America’s most beautiful golf clubs.
Bland will be playing his second PGA Championship of sorts two weeks in a row after finishing T37 with a final score of 1-over par at The PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
As a whole body of work, Bland’s performance was solid and encouraging for the immediate future.
Shooting rounds of 70, 68, 76, and 71 – it was surprisingly the front nine that gave Bland fits rather than the back nine with its infamous Green Mile that sunk the hopes of Jon Rahm and a number of other would-be contenders.
Of his performance and chances, Bland said, “I’m not saying I would have given Scottie a run for his money, but I felt like I certainly – there was a top 10 to be had there for me, which would have been an unbelievable week.
Despite the outcome, Bland represented both his Cleeks and the entirety of LIV golf well.
Sitting in 17th place in the individual standings and squarely in LIV’s Lock Zone, Bland has put together another masterful body of work.
Adding another trophy or two in 2025 would mark the most successful seasons in his career.
What to Expect for the Opening Round
With heavy rainfall lasting most of Wednesday, the field was not able to get in a final proper practice round.
The PGA Senior Championship field will go into Thursday guessing how the greens will feel and searching for any newly swamped areas that could muddy up the balls.
Fortunately, clear skies and sunshine are expected Thursday afternoon until the tournament’s conclusion.
Richard will tee off at 1:48 PM on the 10th and may be able to get off to a good start with favourable weather and a great hole to start off on!
Congressional’s website lists the 511-yard par 5 10th as, “At just over 500 yards from the tips the 10th hole is reachable for plenty of players, particularly for players who are able to wrap a draw around the trees off the tee.
The front of the green is wide open and thus receptive to aerial or ground shots that are played to the putting surface.
Approach shots that leak right into the greenside bunker need not fear as it is one of the most shallow bunkers on the course and will yield a healthy percentage of up and down efforts.”
The Competition
Last season on his way to win the title, Bland defeated a trio of Aussies in Richard Green (2; -14), Greg Chalmers (3; -13), and Scott Hend (T4; -12).
Fan favourite Ernie Els, who will also be participating this year, finished T6 at 11-under par.
Of course, Angel Cabrera, who just won the Regions Tradition last week figures to be a frontrunner to challenge Bland.
Cabrera tees off at 1:04 PM on the 10th a few groups ahead of Bland. Perhaps this is a preview of our final pairing?
To add some fireworks to the mix, Cabrera has been paired up with Jerry Kelly at the 1:04 tee time.
Kelly was runner-up to Cabrera last week and posted an amazing 19-under par but still fell short to the resurgent Cabrera.
LIV’s Lee Westwood of The Majesticks will be the other LIV representative across from Bland. Currently sitting at 53rd place in the LIV individual standings, Westwood’s season has been disappointing.
His best finish was T25 at the season opener in Jeddah. Perhaps a championship tournament outside LIV is just what Westwood needs to give his season a shot in the arm.
The locale works favourably for Bland and Westwood as the next LIV tournament, LIV Virginia, is only about an hour’s drive away from Congressional Country Club.
The English duo should be well-rested with no travel to speak of and have little to no rust after such a great experience at the Senior PGA Championship.
How To Watch
The 2025 Senior PGA Championship’s official viewing guide can be found here.
You can also come back to this article where we will be periodically posting images and videos from the tournament directly.
