Michael Block’s stunning performance at the 2023 PGA Championship has led to sponsor dollars and teaming up with celebrities such as DJ Khaled. But if you thought his magical run was over, think again.

The California club pro made a scouting trip to next year’s PGA venue — and he left with a share of a long-held course record.

Block teed it up at Valhalla Golf Club on Thursday and went low yet again. Real low. With an eagle and seven birdies, the 47-year-old fired a nine-under-par 63 to match the mark of two-time Masters champ Jose Maria Olazabal from the 2000 PGA Championship. Have a look at this sweet scorecard:

“Blockie”! Love it.

Block became a sensation in May at Oak Hill when he played his way into contention, made a spectacular hole-in-one on Sunday, and finished in the top 15 to qualify for next year’s event. He’s made a number of public appearances since, including helping DJ Khaled win his inaugural charity golf tournament.

And while Block acknowledged shooting 63 in a practice round and under easier scoring conditions is a lot different than doing it during a major, he did make his last few birdies with the cameras rolling. Here are a few highlights and a post-round interview from the surprise golf star of 2023:

“There’s cameras out there, but the camera doesn’t even faze me anymore,” Block said after. “Which if you talked to me a year ago, I’d be freaking out.”

Yep, the camera loves this guy now. And golf fans will be seeing even more of him when he returns to Valhalla in May.

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Now that the 2023 major season is complete, which of the 30 LIV Golf League members who teed it up in at least one of golf’s four biggest tournaments this year produced the best overall performance?

Well, only one of those players came away with a trophy, so the answer is easy. No LIV player had a better run in the majors this season than Smash Captain Brooks Koepka, who won the PGA Championship after tying for second at the Masters. He also made the cut in the last two majors.
As for the other 29 …

To rank the LIV players who competed in the majors, we came up with a relatively simple formula. For each $1,000 in prize money won at a major, a player receives 1 point. Thus, $50,000 in earnings is worth 50 points, $100,000 is worth 100 points and so on. The only caveat — a player must have made the cut to get those points.

While players do receive prize money at majors even if they don’t make the cut, for the majority of the majors, those purses are distributed evenly among all missed cuts regardless of score. For our purposes, we weighted points for missed cuts depending on how close a player came to the cut line. Missing the cut by one stroke = 5 points; by two strokes = 4 points; by 3 strokes = 3 points; 4 strokes = 2 points, and 5 strokes = 1 point. Players who missed the cut by more than five strokes received no points.

In using those calculations, here’s how the 30 LIV players ranked in the overall majors. And just a reminder — these are strictly unofficial rankings, purely a fun exercise in how to appraise the major starters.

1. BROOKS KOEPKA (5,057 points)
His PGA Championship win was worth 3,150 points, and his tie for second at the Masters worth 1,584 points.
2. CAMERON SMITH (1,637 points)
Most of his points came from a solo fourth at the US Open (991 points) and a tie for ninth at the PGA (465 points).
3. PHIL MICKELSON (1,622 points)
His tie for second with Koepka at the Masters was the big point-producer.
4. PATRICK REED (1,086 points)
Joins Koepka and Smith as the only LIV golfers to make the cut in all four majors this year. The majority of his points came from a tie for fourth at the Masters (744 points) and a tie for 18th at the PGA (214 points).
5. BRYSON DECHAMBEAU (965 points)
His tie for fourth at the PGA was worth 720 points. Also played well at the US Open with a tie for 20th (200 points).
6. DUSTIN JOHNSON (521 points)
A tie for 10th at the US Open gave him 435 points. Made the cut at the Masters and PGA. Alas, no need to discuss the Open.
7. JOAQUIN NIEMANN (376 points)
Finished in the top 20 at the Masters (261 points) and had a decent result at the US Open (108 points). Came close to the cut line in the other two majors (combined seven points).
8. MITO PEREIRA (286 points)
His tie for 18th at the PGA was worth 214 points.
9. HENRIK STENSON (233 points)
His only major start this year was at the Open Championship, where he tied for 13th, the best result among all LIV golfers at Royal Liverpool.
10. HAROLD VARNER III (215 points)
Tied for 29th in both the Masters (125 points) and PGA (90 points).
11. LAURIE CANTER (188 points)
Earned a spot in the Open through final qualifying and tied for 17th in his only major start.
12. ABRAHAM ANCER (170 points)
Finished consistently in the middle of the pack in three majors – Masters, US Open and Open.
13. SERGIO GARCIA (145 points)
Almost all his points came from a tie for 27th at the US Open.
14. THOMAS PIETERS (140 points)
He was middle of the pack in two majors — Masters and PGA — and made the cut at the Open.
15. LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN (122 points)
Tied for 23rd at the Open to earn all his points.
16. TALOR GOOCH (100 points)
The current LIV Golf points leader made the cut in just one of three starts, tying for 34th at the Masters.
17. DAVID PUIG (85 points)
The 21-year-old from Spain made his major debut at the US Open and tied for 39th after a sizzling final round.
18. RICHARD BLAND (84 points)
The 50-year-old from England played in just one major, tying for 33rd at the Open.
19. SEBASTIÁN MUÑOZ (49 points)
Was a qualifier for the US Open and tied for 49th.
20. CHARL SCHWARTZEL (48 points)
Tied for 50th at the Masters, a tournament in which he has a lifetime exemption thanks to his 2011 win.
21. DEAN BURMESTER (36 points)
Finished 54th in his only major start at the PGA.
22. SIHWAN KIM (32 points)
Tied for 62nd in his only major start at the PGA.
23. BRENDAN STEELE (5 points)
Came within a stroke of making the cut at the PGA.
24. ANIRBAN LAHIRI (4 points)
Came within two strokes of making the cut at the PGA.
25. MARTIN KAYMER (2 points)
The two-time major winner had to withdraw with injury at the PGA and was four strokes off the cut line at the US Open.
26. JASON KOKRAK (1 point)
Missed the cut by five strokes at the Masters.
T27. BRANDEN GRACE, KEVIN NA, CARLOS ORTIZ, BUBBA WATSON (0 points)
Na withdrew from the Masters mid-tournament with an injury, while the other three missed the cut in their respective majors by more than five strokes.

The post Major review: Ranking the LIV Golfers in 2023 appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

On the deepest, darkest and most attention-seeking corners of Golf Twitter last week, a few folks were, let’s just say, “over” Michael Block. For the most part, it was simply a “you say salt, I say pepper” situation, with people hating on Block’s story for the sake of hating. It’s one of the most tired social media acts going.

But those haters had to feel a little vindicated on Wednesday when Block, speaking on the RipperMagoo podcast with Bob Menery, made a somewhat preposterous claim regarding Rory McIlroy’s distance off the tee, Block having just seen it up close last Sunday. Menery asked Block what’s the biggest difference between his game and McIlroy’s, and Block’s response as set Twitter aflame.

“He’s a lot longer than I am, that’s what it is,” said Block, a factual statement.

“So the length is the big thing?” Menery added.

“Oh my God,” Block said. “What I would shoot from where Rory hits it would be stupid. I think I’d be one of the best players in the world. Hands down. If I had that stupid length, all day. My iron game, wedge game, around the greens and my putting is world class,” he said.

https://t.co/xBPEPFF3DC pic.twitter.com/wEXRR0ck71

— Bob Menery (@BobMenery) May 25, 2023

The people do not like that one, Michael.

https://t.co/xBPEPFF3DC pic.twitter.com/wEXRR0ck71

— Bob Menery (@BobMenery) May 25, 2023

Yeah I’m down to fade this Michael Block guy now @Krabs_Bets

pic.twitter.com/PuOjS9rfjB

— Ben Cary (@Ben_Cary_) May 25, 2023

Michael Block: “Stay humble, don't let this one good tournament go to your head.”

Also Michael Block: pic.twitter.com/LCuNFTQFfc

— PGALockerRoom- (@PGALockerRoom) May 25, 2023

Well it was a fun few days ? https://t.co/NIXAD43Og8

— Andy Johnson ? (@AndyTFE) May 25, 2023

annddddd the Block Party is over https://t.co/0Wmn2ylQa9

— Eric Patterson (@EPatGolf) May 25, 2023

Look, on one hand, if Block is just basing this quote off his performance last week, he’s got a case. With McIlroy’s length at Oak Hill, maybe he ties for second or third as opposed to 15th. His iron play, chipping and putting were world class at the PGA, hence why he was able to hang for all four days with consistent scores of 70-70-70-71. Heck, even in the two PGA Tour events he played in this season before last week, he mixed in a first-round 65 at the American Express and only missed the cut by a few shots at Torrey Pines. He knows he’s got plenty of game, and added length off the tee would certainly make his game that much better.

But (you knew there was going to be a but), to say you’d be “one of the best players in the world” just by adding McIlroy’s length is, to be fair, an insane statement, the type that makes you go from humble fairy-tale story to: “OK, this guy is getting a bit cocky now.” As many have already pointed out, Block is 5-for-25 on making PGA Tour cuts lifetime. That to one of the best players on the planet if only he had extra distance is a rather large leap, one folks are happy to pounce on.

The beauty of golf? Block has another opportunity to let his clubs do the talking on Thursday when he tees off at the Charles Schwab Challenge, and Colonial is the perfect course for a short-hitting club pro like him to do it. I’m sure we’ll be revisiting this clip at some point on Thursday or Friday, in a good or bad manner.

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There’s nothing the internet loves to do more than create a conspiracy out of nothing. With Brooks Koepka winning the PGA Championship, of course something was going to be conjured out of thin air, and Twitter immediately jumped on a confusing exchange between Koepka and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. The two didn’t shake hands as they greeted each beside the Wanamaker Trophy and Waugh seemed to whisper something as he walked away, leaving Koepka to smirk and shake his head.

What’s going on with Seth Waugh here. Could he not bring himself to give Brooks a hand shake? Brooks is like “Wtf, man” ?@golfproryan pic.twitter.com/KgeooixOOH

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) May 22, 2023

What did this all mean? Was there something sensational afoot? As it turns out, probably not.

In a conversation with Todd Lewis of the Golf Channel, Waugh broke down what actually happened and what he and the five-time major winner briefly discussed.

I spoke with PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh today. He told me he’s known Brooks since he was in the eighth grade. He’s always admired and liked Brooks and said he couldn’t be happier that he has his 3rd Wanamaker. As for the perceived awkward encounter: https://t.co/F6cBZgzIIY pic.twitter.com/xNI6v466u5

— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) May 24, 2023

“I literally said to him, ‘I think they have four million pictures of me. They must have 24 million pictures of you. I’ve never seen one of them and I don’t know if you ever have,’” Waugh explained. “He cracked up, he laughed and we kind of turned around and smiled at each other. That was it.

“Somebody chose to think that was a diss and I hadn’t shaken his hand. I already talked to him five times since he won. I certainly shook his hand and told him how proud I was of him. It couldn’t be sillier or further from the truth and everybody is trying to make it into this LIV thing which it’s got nothing to do with.”

???? PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh says Brooks Koepka will be welcome on the @RyderCupUSA team if he auto qualifies as a top 6 points earner: “If he plays his way on the team, we will welcome him.” (Via: @ToddLewisGC) pic.twitter.com/GVs8cOdP0E

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) May 24, 2023

So, there you go. It’s all fine between the PGA CEO and the reigning PGA champ. Glad we got that settled.

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There’s nothing less fun than playing golf in the cold and rain, but nothing more fun than watching pros have to deal with it.

Pros, indeed, had to deal with it on Saturday at the PGA Championship. The rain poured, but never enough for play to be called. And when it did, we didn’t just see lots of predictable bogeys. We also saw something unexpected: Players turning their hats around backwards.

 

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If you’re wondering why, you’re not the only one. Lots of golf fans on social media were asking the question, and the answer is simple: When the rain gets heavy and players’ hats get drenched with water, the water starts dropping down the brim of their hat. That, simply put, gets annoying when players are tilting over their ball at set-up. It’s hard to focus on the ball you’ve got water drip, drip, dripping down in front of it.

Rory McIlroy. Kevin C Cox

And so, the hat goes backwards. Tiger Woods was the first to do it — the first time I can remember him flipping the hat backwards was during his infamous 81 at Muirfield during the 2002 Open Championship.

Tiger Woods. Timothy A Clary

Why not take the hat off all together? Some do, but for most golfers, wearing a hat is simply more comfortable — even if it’s the wrong way around.

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By now, golf fans have all seen Michael Block’s PGA Championship hole-in-one more times than they can count. But it turns out a fan had the best angle of this legendary shot.

The 46-year-old club pro highlighted “the best week of his life” by making an ace on Oak Hill’s 15th hole during Sunday’s final round. Making the feat even more incredible was that he dunked a 7-iron on the fly, a moment that was shown on a slight delay by CBS (You can tell by the way Jim Nantz teased that “fairy-tale” line). Let’s check it out one(?) more time:

MICHAEL. BLOCK. ACE. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/YitD2QLDB7

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 21, 2023

Absolutely amazing. No matter how many times we see it. But get ready for a new treat from a fan who just happened to be recording from left of the green while Block struck a shot that will go down in golf lore.

Not only did this person capture this incredible video, but someone in it can be heard saying “Get in the hole” twice before you see the ball go directly into the hole. Normally we’re not fans of such commentary, but in this case it’s cool because the guy didn’t shout, and, well, the ball actually went in the hole! Anyway, have a look and listen:

@chef_roth

Do your thing TikTok! #pga #pgachamionship #rochesterny #golf #block #cheflife #espn #holeinone #oakhillcountryclub

♬ original sound – ccroth78

Unbelievable. This wasn’t a scene out of a movie (Although, it could be someday!), it actually happened. Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

It’s a moment that will be remembered for a long time. Block says he’s already been offered $50,000 for the 7-iron that hit the shot. But lucky us, we all got to see it for free. OK, time to go watch this a few (hundred) times more.

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Koepka made seven birdies on the day, all from 11 feet or closer as his irons were on target. His birdies on Nos. 2 through 4 were from 4 feet, 4 feet and 9 feet, respectively, and then he rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on 10. An 11-footer for birdie at the 12th followed but it was the 10-footer for par at 13 that kept the momentum, perhaps spurring Koepka to blast his drive at the uphill 320-yard, par-4 14th onto the fringe, leading to another birdie before adding one more after a pitching wedge from 156 yards at the 16th stopped a few feet away and sealed the deal.

Koepka’s irons are Srixon’s ZX7 Mk II, the follow-up to the ZX7 irons Kopeka first put into play at the 2021 The American Express. “I just felt like the irons were going a little bit higher,” he said when asked at the 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open, which he won, what he liked about the clubs. “The ball flight was pretty good. The way the sole goes through the turf. They don’t stick, [which is good] because I do come in pretty steep on it.”

The new version features a face that has 12 per cent less face displacement, leading to more consistency. The irons also feature a lower blade height to allow players the ability to flight their short irons lower with more control.

Changing to the new irons was likely not a big deal for Koepka, who told Golf Digest several years ago his attitude on the topic. “We’re trying new clubs all the time, new shafts all the time. When you have access to all this it’s not a big deal, even when switching brands. At least not for me. After a couple hundred balls I don’t even notice it.”

Kopeka was solid on the greens as well, with no three-putts all week and several clutch makes. His putter remains the Scotty Cameron by Titleist Newport 2 SLT T10 he put back in the bag after Nike exited the equipment business in August of 2016. The putter, which boasts a T10 Terylium insert and has BK stamped on the front toe, helped Koepka tie Rory McIlroy’s US Open scoring record of 16 under par and has been in the bag for all five of his major championship wins.

It was the massive tee shot at 14, however, that was most impressive. Koepka’s driver is a Srixon ZX5 LS Mk II driver at 10.5 degrees with a Mitsubishi Diamana White D+ 70TX shaft. Koepka switched from the company’s ZX7 model at the LIV event in Tucson earlier this year and for the Masters bumped up the loft a degree from 8 to 9 degrees and then later added more loft to avoid hanging back during his swing to get elevation on his tee shots, which was important to hold the green at 14. For the week Koepka picked up nearly 14 shots on the field tee-to-green, ranked fourth.

All of which allowed Koepka to elevate the Wanamaker Trophy for a third time.

What Brooks Koepka had in the bag at the 2023 PGA Championship
Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond
Driver: Srixon ZX5 MKII (Mitsubishi Diamana White D+ 70TX shaft), 10.5 degrees
3-wood: TaylorMade M2 (2017), 16.5 degrees
Irons: (3) Nike Vapor Fly Pro; (4-9): Srixon ZX7 MKII; (PW): Cleveland RTX ZipCore
Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6 (52, 56, 60 degrees)
Putter: Scotty Cameron by Titleist Newport 2 SLT T10

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Michael Block — you’ve heard of him, yes? — has come into a bit of money the past few days thanks to a T-15 finish at the PGA Championship, earning a cool $288,333 for his performance at Oak Hill. He has a chance to make some more dosh this week at Colonial at the Charles Schwab Challenge, as Block has accepted a sponsor exemption into this week’s event.

However, Block has an interesting offer should he want to cash in on his sudden fame. But it comes with a catch.

The club professional who has taken the sport by storm told the media on Tuesday at Colonial that he has been offered $50,000 for the 7-iron he used to make a hole-in-one at Oak Hill’s 15th during Sunday of the PGA Championship.

“I’ve had a couple different offers actually,” Block said. “It’s crazy, right? I’ve had a couple different offers, and the initial response was it was $50,000 and I’d hand deliver it. Kind of kiddingly, but I guess not really anymore.”

Block said there are other entities who want the club in question, which we imagine are the PGA of America and Oak Hill. Block isn’t sure what he’s ultimately going to do with the 7-iron. It’s been a whirlwind few days, after all.

“For right now it just needs to hit shots in there close for me, and I’ll go from there,” Block said.

Block tees off on Thursday at 2.28pm local time.

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If his Sunday 65 at the Masters wasn’t enough proof, Phil Mickelson’s recent Twitter rebirth has further driven home the fact that the man is starting to feel himself again.

Last year around this same time, Mickelson took a quieter, more robotic-like approach with the media in the early stages of the LIV-PGA Tour saga. He did the same on Twitter, a forum he joined in 2018 and seemed to enjoy the back-and-forth of until jumping to the new tour and going dark on social media.

That has not been the case of late, however, with Mickelson tweeting and replying to everything and anything in regard to LIV, the PGA Tour, major exemptions, world ranking points, etc. The six-time major champion was asked why, with all he’s accomplished in this game, he’s felt the need to get back on the bird app to fire off takes. His answer was an interesting one, to say the least.

“I guess it’s because I know some things that others don’t,” Mickelson said. “I just want to make sure everybody’s held accountable.”

Lefty’s Twitter comeback tour continued on Tuesday, just two days after he tied for 58th at Oak Hill in his PGA Championship ‘defence’ (Mickelson skipped the 2022 PGA at Southern Hills). After witnessing fellow LIV golfer Brooks Koepka’s impressive victory, and knowing how well he and a number of LIV golfers played at the Masters as well as the PGA, the 52-year-old felt confident enough to make a rather bold declaration.

Love LIV or hate it, it’s the best way/Tour to be your best in the majors. Enough events to keep you sharp, fresh and ready, yet not be worn down from too many tournaments or obligations. 14 LIV events, 34 weeks left open to prepare for the 4 majors. Fact.

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) May 23, 2023

The use of “Fact” here from Mickelson seems to imply that this take is not up for debate. In fairness, albeit in a small sample size, the LIV players have thoroughly impressed at the two majors, a reminder that the biggest LIV stars are still very good at golf. Three LIVers, Mickelson included, finished in the top five at the Masters. At Oak Hill, three LIV players placed inside of the top 10, including winner Brooks Koepka.

Again, small sample size.

As Mickelson has quickly come to find out, everything on Twitter is up for debate in 2023, including “facts”. He has already received almost 900 replies, 9,000 likes and 700 retweets a nice reminder that sometimes it’s best to simply log off.

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Among the many reasons fans still seem to like Brooks Koepka despite the jump to LIV is his ability to just be a bro, as stupid as that sounds. Look no further than this hilarious clip on Saturday evening, featuring Koepka, holding on to the 54-hole lead at the time, telling Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis about his plans for that night.

Brooks Koepka on what he’s doing tonight

“Just gonna watch the Ps”

We love a pucks head. pic.twitter.com/6B2Xu0Wz7G

— Christopher Powers (@CPowers14) May 20, 2023

While others might have said something cliche-y about getting some rest or hitting up the physio or getting in extra putting work, Koepka told the truth — he was going to kick back and watch the Ps, short for the Florida Panthers, for those wondering, which is all of us, because Koepka is the only person on the planet to call them the Ps.

Koepka watched his Ps get a win, then he went out and won the damn PGA Championship like it was no big deal. Not long after he won, he was already talking about how he wasn’t going to be very sober this week. A true bro’s bro.

The now five-time major champion doubled down on that promise on yet another appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast with hosts Dan “Big Cat” Katz and PFT Commenter. Calling in from Rochester on Sunday evening, an admittedly buzzed Koepka outlined his upcoming week, and it sounds like the man is about to go live it up.

“Dude, this is going to be a long week for me,” Koepka said. “Ps game tomorrow [Monday], Heat game Tuesday, Panthers game Wednesday, then got to go up and play the LIV event this weekend [in Washington DC].”

“I don’t know how well that LIV event is gonna go,” he added. “I’ll be dead honest.”

Note to everyone: Do not count on Brooks Koepka this week at LIV DC.

It’s unclear if Koepka is attending all these games, although he did take the Wanamaker Trophy to the ‘Ps’ game on Monday night!

Brooks Koepka brought Wanamaker Trophy to the Florida Panthers game tonight pic.twitter.com/err8fdryor

— Adam Stanley (@adam_stanley) May 23, 2023

We’ve seen him courtside at Miami Heat games before, and Tuesday night is an opportunity to see Jimmy Butler and co. sweep the Boston Celtics. Can’t miss that. As for his beloved Ps, well, Koepka is as diehard as they come, as we know.

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