Birthday boy Richard Bland has eyes on Masters dream ahead of Ras Al Khaimah Championship

Once the euphoria abated when Richard Bland won for the first time after two decades on tour and 477 previous attempts last season, he had a neat reminder as to what is left for him to aim for.

To give it its official title, Bland won the British Masters hosted by Danny Willett last May. Since the tournament returned to the DP World Tour in 2015, a leading light of British golf has had the chance to “host” it each year, at a course of their recommendation.

Willett’s career remains defined by winning the Masters in 2016. For Bland, just playing at that competition remains a career ambition.

Now, given the remarkable Indian summer Bland is enjoying, he is in with a shot at qualifying to play at the Augusta National.

The Englishman turns 49 on Thursday’s opening day at the Ras Al Khaimah Championnship presented by Phoenix Capital.

Having just missed out on winning the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic after a play-off with Viktor Hovland on Sunday, he is up to No 53 in the world rankings. Those inside the top 50 the week before the Masters qualify to play.

“If I could play at Augusta that would be a dream come true,” Bland said, on the eve of Al Hamra Golf Club’s DP World Tour debut.

“Of course the goal now is to reach the top 50. You want to get as high as you can. We’re looking to trying to get some invites in America because after these two weeks in Ras Al Khaimah we don’t have any tournaments on the DP World Tour for a couple of weeks.”

Because Covid issues led to the postponement of the Qatar Masters, Ras Al Khaimah will host a second tournament immediately after its first.

For many players, including Bland who played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai previously, it means a month-long stay in the UAE.

Al Hamra will pose a different