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.

The post The Year of Michael Block continues with this Valhalla course record on PGA Championship scouting trip appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

The former PGA of America president, who was fired from his duties after calling Ian Poulter a “little girl” on social media, wrote a piece for the Morning Read arguing the merits of Valhalla as the Wanamaker’s permanent home.

Make no mistake, Valhalla does have its selling points, including a reputation as an excitement facilitator and the lively backdrop of Louisville as home base. But Bishop made the cardinal sin of comparing Valhalla to the crème de la crème of championship courses: Augusta National. Actually, that’s not true; Bishop asserted, in some aspects, Valhalla is better than Augusta.

“I would argue that even with the natural beauty of Augusta National in early April, the golf course itself is not as dramatic or as challenging as at Valhalla. Certainly, Valhalla can be better and the PGA would be greatly incentivised to do that if it were a showcase of the championships that it owns.”

Stephen Szurlej

Not sure if that sound you hear is Bobby Jones rolling or laughing in his grave. It’s also unclear — judging by the lack of dramatics and challenge claim — if Bishop has ever watched the final round of the Masters.

Perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised at his affinity for the Louisville club; Bishop lives right up the road in Franklin, Ind. But while Valhalla does have it’s virtues, it’s far from the upper echelon of major championship venues. (The latest Golf Digest Ranking listed Valhalla at No. 81 in the U.S., and came in eighth out of 15 in our PGA Championship course survey.) Moreover, part of the beauty of the PGA, as well as the U.S. Open and The Open, is the rotation of diverse and engaging tracks as host sites.

Perhaps the club will get another PGA Championship visit (the tournament is booked until 2023, with Southern Hills also promised future hosting duties). Until that theoretical performance, let’s save the Augusta-Valhalla corollaries. And by save, we mean “bury forever.”

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