English journeyman Richard Bland admitted he would find it hard not to dream of winning the US Open after claiming the surprise clubhouse target at Torrey Pines.

Bland had not tasted victory on the European Tour until five weeks ago, when he won the British Masters at The Belfry on his 478th start.

But after adding a superb second-round 67 to his opening 70 to set the pace on five under par, the 48-year-old can now dare to contemplate winning a major championship.

"Of course, it's going to be pretty tough not to do that," Bland said. "I'm very proud. To lead a major is always pretty special.

"I tied the lead in the Open in 2017 for a hole, so it's nice to have it a bit longer than that."

Bland's victory in the British Masters secured his place at Torrey Pines via a mini order of merit from three European Tour events, which replaced the traditional 36-hole qualifier due to coronavirus restrictions.

"I was coming here off a couple of good results, a win and a third in Europe," added the world No.115, coincidentally the same ranking held by Phil Mickelson before he won the US PGA Championship eight days after Bland's win.

"I was feeling pretty good about my game. I've been driving the ball well for five, six weeks now, which is the cornerstone if you're going to put a fight up for a US Open.

"When I saw this place on Monday, it kind of set up to my eye. There's not too many doglegs. It's all there just straight in front of me, and that's the kind of golf course I like. There's nothing kind of jumping out and grabbing you or anything like that."

Bland's only previous experience of a major on US soil was the 2009 US Open at Bethpage, when he covered his first four holes in six over par in the worst of the weather conditions but played his remaining 32 in just one over.

"I'm a professional golfer, but I'm also a golf fan," he added.

"I love to watch the Masters especially and I've been fortunate enough to play (at Augusta) with a friend of mine. There's nothing like the back nine of a Masters.

"Hopefully if I can keep playing the way I'm playing, maybe next year I might be able to experience it. That would be a proper dream come true.

"In the qualifiers we have in Europe, I think I've lost in a play-off four times for this, for a US Open, and I've lost three times in Open qualifying.

"I could have maybe played closer to double figure majors, but it's not quite to be, and I'm not going to lose any sleep over that. I'm just enjoying this one right now."