LIV Defector Invokes Phil Mickelson To Bury the ‘Oldies’ Stereotype Debate, Weeks After the 3X Major PGA Tour Icons’ Statements

The leaderboard after two days of intense golf at the Greenbrier is astounding. Starting with the leaders of the board, Matthew Wolff and David Puig, both have displayed the kind of resilience that is quite admirable. While Puig managed a stable performance of 7 and 5 under par in the first and second rounds, respectively, the former stunned everyone with his 9 under par on Day 1 and a credible 3 under par on Day 2.

They were soon joined in this firework of birds by Taloor Gooch and Bryson DeChambeau. Another LIV defector who added his name to the list was an interesting addition. However, it was not his bogey-free 7-under-par round in Round 2 that caught the attention of the golf world. Rather, the fascinating age difference between the golfers headed the tenth LIV Golf event, and just like every viral LIV update, it also featured Phil Mickelson!

A LIV golfer buries the hatchet on an age-related debate spotlighting Phil Mickelson

While the greens of Greenbrier have been a challenge to tame for most golfers, the experience of Richard Bland seems to narrate a different story. The golfer’s current standing at T3 is a clear indication of how well he has been playing. Amidst the on-field display of skills, Bland was witnessed answering several questions at the Cleeks GC Press Conference at the Old White.

The interaction started with questions focused on the golf icon’s unfathomable exhibit on the golf field. It soon touched on a topic that has been surrounding the golf world for quite some time now. This next question was aimed at the general “age factor” debate that remains constant in the world of golf. The journalist asked Bland about how he felt trailing behind David Puig and Matthew Wolff, 21 and 24 years old, respectively, on the leaderboard of the ongoing LIV event.

Bland, in a rather pleasant tone, replied, “Well, I’m 50. I’m trying to keep us oldies still relevant.” Aside from the mention of his own presence, he went on to appreciate two other senior golfers who according to him, have done a really good job overall. The names he included were those of English golf star Lee Westwood and American golf icon Phil Mickelson.

The English Professional elaborated on how the only ones over 50 in LIV, which he seemingly finds extremely cool. At this stage of the game, with immense experience in the bag, Bland mentioned keeping the focus on doing “your thing” without worrying much about other matters.

The answer led him to reveal his encounters with David Puig and Matthew Wolff as well. Sounding impressed by the standards set by both the young golfers, he claimed, “I played with David yesterday. He hits it a mile. I’ve played with Wolffy a couple of times; he hits it even further.” Bland’s continuous focus during the whole press conference remained on taking the right chances while maintaining a grip on his game.

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Given the polite yet confident response from Bland regarding the age-related queries, it is interesting to note that he is not the only veteran to have voiced opinions regarding the same. Another experienced golfer who has expressed his views on age-related stereotypes is Irishman Pádraig Harrington.

Richard Bland is walking in Harrington’s footsteps while breaking the shackles of stereotyped aging

Age plays a pivotal role in golf, just like in any other sport. This is one of those extraneous elements that every enthusiast and expert considers when assessing a pro’s performance. Hence, ahead of The Open last month, veteran golfer Pádraig Harrington found himself face-to-face with a similar conundrum.

The answer from the 51-year-old Irish golfer was quite clear. Breaking the chains of stereotypes, he said that victory doesn’t only require physical strength. He stressed that to achieve a feat, an individual must be able to stand out through his mental fortitude and self-confidence.

Clearly, it was the experience of the three-time major winner speaking. He emphasized that each and every performance counts, and being able to challenge oneself is the true way to improve. Thus, his and Bland’s stances provide a powerful insight as to how one needs to let age limit them from conquering something others believe to be impossible.

One’s belief in their abilities is enough to help one achieve triumph, irrespective of the obstacles encountered. What do you think of Richard Bland’s statement regarding his age and the like of other like Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood? Do you agree with Padraig Harrington and his views? Let us know in the comments!

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