John Bland dies at 77

South African professional golfer John Bland has passed away at the age of 77 after battling cancer. Bland, a winner of two European tour titles and eight senior titles over a 40-year career, was a formidable opponent who competed with some of the best players in the world.

He won the Benson and Hedges International in England in 1983, where he beat two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, and the Suze Open in France in 1986, where he triumphed over golfing legend Seve Ballesteros by four shots.

Bland was also a five-time winner on the Senior PGA Tour and claimed three victories on the European Senior Tour, with his last win coming in 2010. He was a beloved and respected sportsman in South Africa, according to the Sunshine Tour golf circuit.