U.S. Open 2021: Richard Bland will love this eerie parallel between him and Phil Mickelson

Through a day-plus at Torrey Pines, Richard Bland has emerged as the breakout story at the U.S. Open. The 48-year-old Brit with grey stubble—who wept last month after winning the British Masters, his first European Tour win in 478 starts—followed up his opening 70 with a four-under 67 and held the solo lead at five under when he signed his scorecard just before noon on Friday.

We're a long ways away from the finish, but Bland would be one of the most unlikely winners in the modern game, entering the week somewhere around 600-1 to take the trophy. Despite turning pro in 1996, this week marks just his fourth career start in a major championship, the most recent before this coming at the 2017 Open Championship. He’d be 48 years, 4 months and 17 days old on Sunday, he'd pass Hale Irwin as the oldest winner of the U.S. Open and would become the third-oldest major winner ever—behind only Phil Mickelson and Julius Boros, who was 48 years, 4 months and 18 days old when he won the 1968 PGA Championship. Plus, Bland sits way down at No. 115 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Wait a minute. If that No. 115 number looks familiar, it’s because it is. That’s exactly where Mickelson ranked the week of last month's PGA Championship, when he turned back the clock and delivered a magical performance to win at Kiawah.

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Granted, not every World No. 115 is created equal. When he was ranked there, Mickelson had 44 PGA Tour victories and five major championships to his name. Bland … does not.

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Speaking rationally, this is nothing more than a numerical coincidence. Speaking emotionally, it’s a sign that Mr. Bland has glory in his future. The world-ranking algorithm simply never lies.

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