2021 U.S. Open: Inspirational journeyman Richard Bland, 48, leads Moving Day storylines at Torrey Pines

Just behind Bland and co-leader Russell Henley are a gaggle of superstars

LA JOLLA, Calif. -- Richard Bland is an aptronym but maybe not in the way you think. The 48-year-old journeyman's journeyman is co-leading the 121st U.S. Open with Russell Henley and looking to one-up Phil Mickelson's victory at the PGA Championship last month as the best 2021 story at a major by somebody who started playing golf professionally in the 1990s. Bland is a good talker and a good sport, but his career has been as, well yeah, bland as they come. He's won twice over 600 events, never on the PGA Tour. He played 477 (!) European Tour events before finally winning for the first time earlier this season because nobody beats Richard Bland 478 times in a row. This time two years ago, he lost his card at the age of 46 and went down to the European minor leagues, playing events in places like Slovakia and Finland. Two years later, he leads the 2021 U.S. Open after 36 holes. "Golf is all I know," he said of the lost card. "When times got tough and I lost my card two or three times, I think, 'What am I going to do, go and get an office job?' I'm not that intelligent, I'm afraid. I've always been someone that can get my head down and work hard, and I always knew I had the game to compete on the European Tour at the highest level. I've always known that."