Why did Richard Bland get slapped a $10,000 fine at LIV Golf Chicago? Rules explored
LIV golfer Richard Bland was handed a one-stroke penalty during the opening round of LIV Golf Chicago. Further, he was given a $10,000 fine for slow play.
LIV Golf Chicago teed off on Friday, September 13, and Bland carded a 1-over 71 in the opening round. He sank four bogeys and three birdies on Day 1 to finish T21. However, he could have finished at even par if not for the single-stroke penalty he received on the 12th hole.
Following the round, LIV Golf released an official statement explaining the situation. As per LIV, the trio of Charl Schwartzel, Patrick Reed, and Bland was officially warned by a rules official on hole 10, their fifth hole of the day. It stated that the group was out of position on the golf course and behind the par time. It further reads:
"After their seventh hole of the day (hole 12), the group, who had further lost position on the course, was officially timed by a rules official. In accordance with the LIV Golf League's Pace of Play Policy, 'A player has 40 seconds to play each stroke, with an additional 10 seconds if they are the first to play any stroke in the group.'
"On the 12th hole, Richard Bland's second stroke was timed exceeding the allotted time per policy. Bland was immediately notified by an official and assessed a one-stroke penalty as well as fined $10,000. Bland's score for the par-5 14th hole, including the one-stroke penalty, resulted in a score of 5. Bland finished the round with a score of 1-over 71."
Notably, this isn’t the first time Bland has lost a stroke due to slow play. Last year, during the LIV Golf Valderrama, he took more than 84 seconds to tee off. This resulted in a one-stroke penalty, but he wasn’t fined.
When will Richard Bland tee off at the LIV Golf Chicago, Round 2?
Richard Bland is grouped with Adrian Meronk and David Puig for the second round of the LIV Golf Chicago. The trio will tee off from the seventh hole on Saturday, September 14 at 12:15 pm ET.
Brooks Koepka shot 8-under 62 in the opening round to take a four-stroke lead after Day 1. Paul Casey is second after shooting 66, followed by Aniraban Lahiri at 3-under.