‘Sad to Lose Another Friend’: Ernie Els Joins Bernhard Langer and Others in Mourning the Saddening Loss of a Legendary Pro
Follow Us
via Imago
Image Courtesy: IMAGO
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In his more than 40-year professional career, Bland won 36 championships. He had competed against the best athletes in the world and given some illustrious performances.
Furthermore, he won twice on the DP World Tour. Along with that, he also won eight senior championships, including three on the European Senior Tour and five on the Senior PGA Tour. The golf veteran went on to achieve a career-high ranking of 48th on the Official World Golf Ranking as a result of his remarkable career.
Golf Pros remember and honor the legend
Many professionals responded to Bland’s tragic passing. PGA TOUR Champions uploaded a video featuring Ernie Els, David Frost, Darren Clarke, and Bernhard Langer remembering Bland, on its official Instagram account.
View this post on Instagram
“Very sad about John. I saw him in November, December, when I went down for my dad. John at that time didn’t even know he had cancer,” said Ernie Els “Great guy all around. Greatest sense of humor and a really good player. so really sad loss for the game,” he reminisced.
Trending
Keegan Bradley Pushes for Greg Norman and Co.’s Presence in PGA Tour, as ‘New Rumors’ Raise Confusion
May 01, 2024 02:40 AM EDT
Rory McIlroy Becomes a Laughing Stock in Golf World as His PGA Tour Breakthrough Sparks Huge Doubts
April 29, 2024 04:06 PM EDT
Is Scottie Scheffler Taking a Paternity Leave to Support Wife Meredith and Their Baby?
April 25, 2024 04:16 PM EDT
Badly Let Down by Following in Scottie Scheffler’s Footsteps, Brooks Koepka Seeks Urgent ‘Answers’ in Singapore
May 02, 2024 12:45 PM EDT
LIV Golf Adelaide Busts PGA Tour’s ‘Unknown’ Champion Theory Behind Distressing TV Ratings
April 30, 2024 03:00 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest Golf stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
PGA Tour Champions Pro Darren Clark also paid respects to the legend’s passing: “I was fortunate enough to play a lot of golf with Blandie. Whenever in my formative years starting on tour, went to Sunshine tour and got to know Blandie really well.”
Fellow South African professional golfer David Frost added, “Blandy, I want to go over to the states. what do you think? And he said, ‘Do it.’ And so in a way, I almost give him credit for me ending up on the US tour.”
Bernhard Langer on the other hand was hit by a wave of memories when talking about Bland, “I remember meeting him when I was very young on the European Tour and he was already an established player. Played many years over there with him and Dale Hayes. And then John came over here to play the PGA Tour Champions as well. Had some really good times with him and some great memories and We’re are sad to lose another friend.”
At the Benson & Hedges International in England in 1983, Bland defeated two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer for his two victories on the European Tour.
Fans pay their respects to Bland
On his officialTwitter account South African cricket coach Jacques Kallis, gave a tribute to Bland. He wrote: “Such sad news hearing that we lost a gentle giant today. RIP John Bland. A golfing icon and a great neighbour.”
Such sad news hearing that we lost a gentle giant today. RIP John Bland. A golfing icon and a great neighbour pic.twitter.com/NdJduOlqjQ
— Jacques Kallis (@jacqueskallis75) May 9, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The great’s admirers then expressed their sorrow in the comments section.
RIP sir, what a legend.
— Kev Hughes (@KevinHughes6969) May 9, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Sad day. RIP
— Jacki Edwards (@edwards_jacki) May 9, 2023
Legend for sure
— Roland Schoeman (@Rolandschoeman) May 10, 2023
Rip 🙏🏻
— 𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚄𝙽 (@perth_171) May 9, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Written by:
Edited by:
Manaal Siddiqui
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT