SOUTHAMPTON professional Richard Bland is due to begin his 2009 European Tour campaign this week.

The Stoneham golfer will play in the Joburg Open, at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, South Africa, starting on Thursday.

The event, which has a prize fund of just over £1m, is the sixth of the new season, but the first Bland will participate in.

The tour has already visited China, Hong Kong and Australia.

Although some of the competitors in Bland’s exemption category chose to jet around the world to try and pick up some early winnings, the 35-year-old has instead been working on his game and spending time with his family.

Full story in today's Daily Echo