Richard Bland said he would not ask Life Golf Even if he qualifies for the Senior Open, he could cause trouble for the breakaway tour by playing.
To say Brand is enjoying a summer-like time in his career would be something of an understatement.
The British player won back-to-back major championships at the U.S. Senior Golf Championship and the U.S. Senior Golf Open earlier this year.
Brand also stayed in good enough shape to retain his spot in the LIV Golf League.
Under normal circumstances, the 51-year-old would have teed off at Carnoustie a few weeks ago and attempted to complete the “Brand Slam.”
But that is not possible as he is banned from playing in the Senior Open as the event is jointly sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the R&A.
Richard Brand
The governing body is sticking to its policy of not allowing DP World Tour members who have competed in LIV events and have unpaid fines to compete until they have received their fines.
Brand previously said: “LIV didn’t pay my fine and I didn’t want them to because I’m not going to be back on the DP World Tour so I didn’t see the point in doing so.”
Lee Westwood was in a similar predicament.
Both Westwood and Brand have resigned from membership of the old World Tour.
But both men pleaded with the R&A to “take action” against the DP World Tour given the tournament’s status.
This year's Senior Open, won by Choi KJ, clashes with the LIV tournament at the JCB Golf and Country Club in Staffordshire.
Richard Brand
LIV players are bound by strict contracts and are obligated to play in every game as long as they are not injured.
“No,” Brand told Golf Magic When asked if LIV would give him a tournament exemption if he was allowed to play this year.
“I’m not saying it’s bad for LIV, I think it opens up a box of trouble if you give someone a release so, for example, for the sake of argument, next year’s schedule comes out and Hong Kong is with the Australian Masters and Cam [Smith] and Lesh [Marc Leishman] Those guys want to play. [they could say] Well, 'You did it for him, so why not do it for us?'
“So, I didn’t [even ask].I know Tim [Barter] My coach asked me a few questions and told me that the media was speculating why [I wasn’t playing the Senior Open].
“I didn't even ask. And, like you said, I have a contract with LIV, and I'm going to honor it.”
“So yeah, I don’t expect them to release me.
“Like you said, this is by no means a bad thing for LIV.
“I fully believe they will [like that] I’m totally fine with that because this is where I play golf and this is where I want to play golf.”
Lee Westwood
He added: “I think if you ask someone on our tour to go somewhere else, you’re just giving someone else an opportunity.”
Brand was speaking ahead of the international series at Fox Hill in Surrey.
The golfer also had some strong opinions on the recently announced changes to European Ryder Cup qualifying.
For him, the Ryder Cup is now a PGA Tour event.
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