RICHARD BLAND

Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed produced big first-round finishes at the Dubai Desert Classic in what could lead to an intriguing showdown as the competition heads to a Monday conclusion.

BANGKOK, Thailand — (AP) — Richard Bland, Branden Grace and Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra upstaged their more-illustrious opponents on Friday to shoot 7-under 65s and share the lead after the first round of the LIV Golf Invitational-Bangkok. British Open champion Cameron Smith, who won the last LIV event in Chicago in mid-September, shot 72. It's the first time LIV Golf is being played outside the United States since its inaugural event in early June near London. Before the start of play, players learned that they still won't accrue ranking points on the LIV series. “We certainly believe that there’s enough that are in the top 50, and we deserve to be getting world ranking points.

Richard Bland, Branden Grace and Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra upstaged their more-illustrious opponents to shoot 7-under 65s and take the lead after the first round of the LIV Golf Invitational-Bangkok.

The storm clouds never arrived at the U.S. Open.

Match Play Golf Kevin Kisner tees off on the 12th tee during the round of 16 of the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship golf tournament, Saturday, March 26, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Two fourth-round matches had to go extra holes while Abraham Ancer needed only 12 holes to beat two-time major champion Collin Morikawa. 1 in the world if he wins the tournament because Jon Rahm was eliminated in 19 holes by Brooks Koepka in another dynamic match. He was a runner-up in Match Play in 2018 and won a year later. The quarterfinal matches were Koepka against Johnson; Scheffler against Power; Ancer against Conners: and Kisner against Zalatoris.

Kevin Kisner is back in the semifinals of the Dell Technologies Match Play.

Sixteen players have made it to the weekend in the Dell Technologies Match Play.

Match Play Golf Richard Bland putts on the fifth green during the third round of the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship golf tournament, Friday, March 25, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Tony Gutierrez)AUSTIN, Texas — (AP) — The Latest on Match Play (all times local):___5:45 p.m.Takumi Kanaya of Japan is headed to the weekend of the Dell Technologies Match Play in a surprising turn of events. ___4:30 p.m.For the second year in a row, Scottie Scheffler had to go extra holes to win his group in the Dell Technologies Match Play. ___3 p.m.Richard Bland won the Battle of Blighty and is headed to the knockout stage of the Dell Technologies Match Play. The winning streak of Billy Horschel at the Dell Technologies Match Play is over.

Match Play Golf Richard Bland putts on the fifth green during the third round of the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship golf tournament, Friday, March 25, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Tony Gutierrez)AUSTIN, Texas — (AP) — The Latest on Match Play (all times local):___4:30 p.m.For the second year in a row, Scottie Scheffler had to go extra holes to win his group in the Dell Technologies Match Play. On they went until the par-5 sixth, where Fitzpatrick chipped to 15 feet and missed the birdie putt, and Scheffler won with a 6-foot birdie. ___3 p.m.Richard Bland won the Battle of Blighty and is headed to the knockout stage of the Dell Technologies Match Play. The winning streak of Billy Horschel at the Dell Technologies Match Play is over.

Match Play Golf Richard Bland putts on the fifth green during the third round of the Dell Technologies Match Play Championship golf tournament, Friday, March 25, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) (Tony Gutierrez)AUSTIN, Texas — (AP) — The Latest on Match Play (all times local):___3 p.m.Richard Bland won the Battle of Blighty and is headed to the knockout stage of the Dell Technologies Match Play. The 49-year-old Bland faced 48-year-old Lee Westwood in an All-England match that featured the two oldest players in the field. Bland won on the 17th hole and won his group. The winning streak of Billy Horschel at the Dell Technologies Match Play is over.

Takumi Kanaya of Japan is headed to the weekend of the Dell Technologies Match Play in a surprising turn of events.

As if the Dell Technologies Match Play isn't fickle enough.

Maverick McNealy was the last man to get into the Dell Technologies Match Play.

Viktor Hovland has beaten Richard Bland in a playoff to capture the Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday after Rory McIlroy missed a chance to win the title in regulation by bogeying the last hole.

British Open Golf South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen play his shot to the 18th green during the first round British Open Golf Championship at Royal St George's golf course Sandwich, England, Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ian Walton) (Ian Walton)SANDWICH, England — (AP) — The Latest on the British Open (all times local):2:45 p.m.Louis Oosthuizen is the clubhouse leader at the British Open and has a place in the record book at Royal St. George's. It hasn't worked out for him at the British Open so far, with several tee shots well off line and in deep grass. ___10:20 a.m.Brian Harman has started the British Open as if he plans on staying for the week. Lowry is playing with Jon Rahm, who is trying to become the first player since Tiger Woods to win the British Open and U.S. Open in the same year.

Andy Sullivan was among the last to make the field at the British Open and part of the first group out when play began.

British Open Golf United States' Jordan Spieth putts on the 9th green during the first round British Open Golf Championship at Royal St George's golf course Sandwich, England, Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) (Peter Morrison)SANDWICH, England — (AP) — The Latest on the British Open (all times local):1:30 p.m.Jordan Spieth is making putts at a British Open in England. Spieth ran off four straight birdies on the front nine at Royal St. George's. ___10:20 a.m.Brian Harman has started the British Open as if he plans on staying for the week. Lowry is playing with Jon Rahm, who is trying to become the first player since Tiger Woods to win the British Open and U.S. Open in the same year.

British Open Golf United States' Bryson DeChambeau looks for the flag on the 2nd hole during the first round British Open Golf Championship at Royal St George's golf course Sandwich, England, Thursday, July 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Ian Walton) (Ian Walton)SANDWICH, England — (AP) — The Latest on the British Open (all times local):12:20 p.m.Bryson DeChambeau has spent much of the morning at Royal St. George's up to his knees in grass. It hasn't worked out for him at the British Open so far, with several tee shots well off line and in deep grass. ___10:20 a.m.Brian Harman has started the British Open as if he plans on staying for the week. Harman has missed the cut the last four times he has played the British Open.

Brandt Snedeker had a 68 for his lowest start to a British Open since 2012.

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong)SAN DIEGO — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open (all times local):3:50 p.m.Rory McIlroy overcame a drive into a canyon to keep himself in contention at the U.S. Open. ___2:55 p.m.Whatever thoughts Phil Mickelson had of finally winning a U.S. Open will have to wait until next year. The 51-year-old PGA champion had a rough time at Torrey Pines. 2:30 p.m.Rory McIlroy is working his way into contention at the U.S. Open. Casey made it back to even par for the U.S. Open with a 31 on the front nine at Torrey Pines.

US Open Golf Paul Casey, of England, plays a shot from a bunker on the 11th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. It added to a 40 on the back nine for a 76, and Mickelson was toward the bottom of the leaderboard. 11 a.m.Jason Gore played in the U.S. Open for the first time in 11 years. Gore played as a non-competing marker Saturday with Akshay Bhatia, who otherwise would have played the third round by himself. If Gore plays again in the final round, it will be with someone else.

US Open Golf Paul Casey, of England, plays a shot from a bunker on the 11th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Thursday, June 17, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) (Marcio Jose Sanchez)SAN DIEGO — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open (all times local):2:30 p.m.Rory McIlroy is working his way into contention at the U.S. Open. 11 a.m.Jason Gore played in the U.S. Open for the first time in 11 years. Gore played as a non-competing marker Saturday with Akshay Bhatia, who otherwise would have played the third round by himself. If Gore plays again in the final round, it will be with someone else.

There’s a three-way tie after three rounds of the U.S. Open.

Richard Bland, a 48-year-old Englishman who won his first tournament just a month ago, is tied atop the leaderboard at 5 under at the midway point of the U.S. Open.

US Open Golf Richard Bland, of England, acknowledges the gallery after making his birdie putt on the second green during the second round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Friday, June 18, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. The weekend at Torrey Pines features major champions and major contenders, players who are unknown or unheralded, all of them still within reach of that U.S. Open trophy. Bland had a 4-under 67 and walked off Torrey Pines with his name atop the leaderboard in only his fourth major. Another shot back were two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson (67) and Jon Rahm (70), a past winner at Torrey Pines and former world No. The 36-hole lead at Torrey Pines in the 2008 U.S. Open was 3-under 139.

Henley had to settle for a tie for the early lead with 48-year-old Richard Bland of England. He withdrew after taking a double bogey on the first hole, his 10th of the second round at Torrey Pines. ___12:03 p.m.Richard Bland has taken the lead in the second round of the U.S. Open. Bland opened with a 1-under 70 and reeled off six birdies to shoot 67 under a marine layer in the second round. He's at 5 under and leads by one over Russell Henley, who shared the first-round lead with Louis Oosthuizen.

US Open Golf Richard Bland, of England, acknowledges the gallery after making his birdie putt on the second green during the second round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Friday, June 18, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. Bland won the British Masters last month in his 478th start, making him the oldest first-time winner in European Tour history. He arrived at Torrey Pines and immediately liked what he saw. I’ve been driving the ball well for five, six weeks now, which is the cornerstone if you’re going to put a fight up for a U.S. Open,” Bland said. The 36-hole lead at Torrey Pines in the 2008 U.S. Open was 3-under 139.

US Open Golf Richard Bland, of England, reacts to missing his putt on the sixth green during the second round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, Friday, June 18, 2021, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull)SAN DIEGO — (AP) — The Latest on the U.S. Open (all times local):12:03 p.m.Richard Bland has taken the lead in the second round of the U.S. Open. Bland opened with a 1-under 70 and reeled off six birdies to shoot 67 under a marine layer in the second round. He leads by two over Russell Henley, who shared the first-round lead with Louis Oosthuizen and is in the afternoon group. ___More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Richard Bland is a 48-year-old from England who won for the first time last month.

Russell Henley and England’s Richard Bland share the lead going into the weekend at the U.S. Open.