Richard Bland believes latest ‘world-class’ signing can help his LIV Golf team contend for titles despite sitting 12th

Cleeks GC members Richard Bland is positive on the addition of Victor Perez to the LIV Golf side. The 52-year-old dubbed the Frenchman, who became LIV Golf League’s first fresh signing ahead of the 2026 season this week, a “world-class player.” The veteran claimed that the new member will help his squad “really compete this year.”

Doubling down on his big claim, Bland lauded his existing teammates’ game. He shed light on Cleeks GC skipper Martin Kaymer and teammate Adrian Meronk’s skills and said the team could find good form in 2026. For the unversed, Perez takes the place of Frederik Kjettrup in the squad, who was relegated from the tour after finishing 57th in the season-long standings.

Bland called the 3x DP World Tour a ‘great signing’ and reiterated that his side can now contend for team titles and podiums on the breakaway tour despite finishing 12th in the 13-team standings in 2025.

Welcoming new signing Victor Perez to his LIV Golf side, Richard Bland said, as quoted by Flushing It Golf:

“Yeah, I think we can really compete this year. I think we know what Adrian (Meronk) is capable of. Victor Perez is a great signing. He’s a world-class player. If me and Martin Kaymer play the way we know we can play, then I think we're going to be contending for some team titles this year, definitely.”

For the unversed, Cleeks GC have so far finished 7th, 11th and 12th in the LIV Golf Team Championship in the opening 3 seasons. The side struggled in 2025 managing no top-five finishes in 13 outings. Kaymer-led team performed best at Riyadh and Dallas, where they finished sixth. The side settled for second-last place on the standings with a collective score of one-over.

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Adrian Meronk weclomes Victor Perez to his LIV Golf side

Victor Perez withdrew from the RSM Classic this weekend ahead of joining LIV Golf. The Frenchman, who has the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, 2022 Dutch Open and 2023 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship wins under his belt, became the first player to make the switch ahead of the 2026 season. The golfer joined the breakaway tour a week after he missed the Butterfield Bermuda Championship cut at the Port Royal Golf Course.

Following the move, the 33-year-old’s new teammate Adrian Meronk came out to welcome him to the side. Much like Bland, the Polish golfer dubbed it a “good signing” and called the newest LIV star a “very steady” player.

Speaking from the PIF Saudi International 2025 in Riyadh, Adrian Meronk said, as quoted by Flushing It Golf:

“I think it's a good signing. I've known Victor for a long time. Played college golf, junior golf, then Challenge and European Tour… Yeah, he's a great player, very steady. I think that's who we need on our team. I think it's going to be a good addition to our team, and I'm looking forward to meeting him again.”

It is pertinent to note that Meronk joined LIV Golf ahead of the 2024 season. The four-time European Tour winner has since won once on the tour. He also sat 17th on the LIV Golf season standings this year, the best finish of anyone on his squad.

Edited by Vishnu Mohan