ROY ROBINSON describes Richard Bland as "a great golfer trying to get out."

It's a well-informed comment from one of tournament golf's most experienced and discerning of caddies.

Robinson used to carry the bag for former Ryder Cup ace Costantino Rocca and is a man not afraid to mince his words.

Now he's chosen to work with Bland, pictured left, because he's convinced the Stoneham man has a brighter future in the game than the Italian who not too long ago lost a play-off to John Daly in the British Open at St Andrew's.

"I wouldn't have left Rocca if I didn't think Richard had a good future in the game," said Robinson.

"To be honest the fella lacks a bit of self belief and because of it he wastes a shot or two more than he should.

"I tell him to draw strength from what he did last season like the brilliant way he won his last Challenge Tour event to earn his place on the European Tour.

"He doesn't realise just how much potential he's got. When he does he'll take off."

Bland's Stoneham buddie Ben Johnson carried his bag during the early-season events but the player admitted: "He's a good mate and that made things awkward when things were going wrong. Roy's very experienced. He lays it on the line and that's what I need right now."

With under £25,000 earned from ten tournaments up to and including the Benson & Hedges Open, Bland is still around £70,000 short of what he needs to keep his card.

His split with coach Martin Butcher and his switch to Tim Barter's fast growing Tour stable is more about having access to a coach who is a part of the Tour which Barter is as a result of his work for Sky TV.

Butcher said: "Last time I saw Richard was just after he finished 16th in the Dunhill Championship in January. While I was working with him he went from 100th to tenth in the Challenge Tour standings and got his European card.

"I think the results speak for themselves."