Tag: Oak Hill Country Club

Michael Block makes hole-in-one, finishes T-15, joins Golf Channel set, gets invite to Schwab Challenge

It is the 29th ace in the PGA Championship since 1983.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Michael Block’s fairytale week keeps getting better.

The 46-year-old club pro aced the 151-yard par-3 15th hole at Oak Hill on Sunday with a 7-iron. Block, who was playing alongside Rory McIlroy, sent his tee shot into the air at “Plateau,” the shortest hole on the course and dunked it.

“No, no way,” he said as the crowd erupted. “Are you kidding me? I’ll cause that delay anytime.”

Block, who teaches at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California, was the only club pro to make the 36-hole cut this week.

McIlroy smiled widely and slapped Block’s hand and gave him a congratulatory bear hug and tap to the belly.

“I’m like, ‘Why is Rory giving me a hug?'” Block said. “Rory is giving me a hug for hitting it 3, 4, 5 feet? That’s weird. I’m like, ‘I think I just made it.'”

It is the 29th ace in the PGA Championship since 1983.

The hole-in-one lifted Block back to even par for the day and the tournament.

2023 PGA Championship
Michael Block celebrates after his hole-in-one on the 15th hole during the final round of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. (Photo: Abbie Parr/Associated Press)

Block’s home club had dozens of eyes glued to the CBS telecast and the remote celebration went crazy after the ace.

“To do it on that hole on this stage was a lifelong dream,” Block said. “It can never be better. That’s it. I can retire. Good night.”

Block needed a top-15 finish to secure a return visit to the PGA in 2024 at Valhalla, and that ace certainly help.

But it was a clutch up-and-down par on the closing 18th hole that sealed it for him, as a final-round 71 punched his ticket for next year. Among the PGA Tour elite that Block’s 1-over 281 total beat this week: Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Jon Rahm, Max Homa and Dustin Johnson.

After his round, and after doing a session in the media center, he got a call from the tournament director at the Charles Schwab Challenge, who offered Block the final sponsor exemption. Block accepted the call on speaker phone and he and his wife got emotional with the good news. He also received an invite to the RBC Canadian Open.

Block topped off his day at Oak Hill by joining the set of Golf Channel’s Live From, and chopped it up with Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee and Brad Faxon.

For his work on the course, Block earned $288,333.

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Jordan Spieth would like to ‘ice my brain a bit’ after the career Grand Slam eludes him again at PGA Championship

After battling for 72 holes with a bum wrist, Jordan Spieth would like to “ice my brain a bit.”

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – After battling for 72 holes with a bum wrist at Oak Hill, Jordan Spieth would like to “ice my brain a bit,” he said.

Spieth, who tried and failed for the seventh time to complete the career Grand Slam, made five birdies Sunday en route to closing in 1-under 69 and a 72-hole total of 5-over 285. After withdrawing from last week’s tournament with a left wrist injury, Spieth finished T-29 at the 105th PGA Championship.

“Two weeks ago I would have signed up for this easily,” Spieth said. “And that’s really weird for me to say in a major.”

Before the injury, Spieth was riding a hot streak having finished T-3 at the Masters and losing in a playoff at the RBC Heritage. He looked to be one of the favorites ahead of the PGA.

“Off of Hilton Head I would have said I was excited as ever to have this opportunity, for sure, but from there I went downhill for a bit,” he said.

Spieth competed in the Wells Fargo Championship two weeks ago and tweaked his back Monday morning. He took it easy the next few days and played poorly. Late on Friday, he hurt his wrist.

“It’s life, it’s what happens,” he said. “My expectations changed. I didn’t think I would be here.”

Spieth said he prayed for his wrist to get better. He credited his team with helping him heal enough to be able to grip the club and swing at full speed.

2023 PGA Championship
Jordan Spieth’s taped arm on the ninth green during the final round of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club. (Photo: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports)

“This is something that hockey guys wouldn’t even have told anybody about and would’ve gone back out and played,” Spieth said.

For the week, he struck the ball well, ranking second in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. It was actually his short game that refused to behave – he ranked 63rd in SG: Putting and 73rd in SG: Around the Green, and he was 11 for 24 in scrambling.

Spieth said his wrist injury is trending the right way and he is planning to play the next two weeks at the Charles Schwab Challenge, where he’s a past champion, and at the Memorial. All he said he needed was a good ice plunge to put the week in the past.

“It’s what I love to do and I wouldn’t trade my job for anything but after a taxing week like this sometimes your brain is a little fried and you get a lot of people screaming at you every time you walk in between (holes) and you just kind of hear some ringing in your ears, so, for me, I go back and take a cold plunge, take a day off and I’m ready to go.”

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Phil Mickelson on LIV Golf’s greatest accomplishment: It’s made a lot of people a lot of money

“Look, it’s not going anywhere. It’s going to continue to accelerate and hopefully people continue to give it a try.”

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Phil Mickelson was asked about LIV Golf’s greatest accomplishment in the year since its inaugural event and his answer was all about the money.

“It’s provided 48 new professional golf opportunities at the highest pay, which is incredible,” was Mickelson’s first thought Sunday after finishing the 2023 PGA Championship at 10-over par 290.

One of those, of course, is Mickelson, whose reported $200 million contract was the largest given out by the Saudi Arabia-financed league. But it’s probably not what CEO and commissioner Greg Norman wanted to hear as LIV continues to battle the perception that players were only going for the money grab when they joined the breakaway tour.

Mickelson, who had his best round of the weekend Sunday with an even-par 70, then talked about LIV “holding a lot of people accountable” and appealing to “a lot younger” generation.

“It’s … getting a lot younger fans to come out and introducing a whole different vibe to the game of golf that I think is necessary,” he said.

“We’re only a year (in) and I’m thinking, three to five years out, where we’ll be,” Mickelson said. “But we’re only a year in so to me it’s just starting. In two more years, that’s when we need to look back and say, ‘Okay, are we where we want to be?’ And it seems like we’re well on that path.”

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Mickelson would not comment directly on the recent New York Times report that said he, Bryson DeChambeau and Sergio Garcia were interviewed by the Justice Department, other than to say it was accurate and he knows “a lot of stuff” will come out later.

The DOJ is investigating the PGA Tour for antitrust violations and collusion when it comes to the Official World Golf Ranking.

“I don’t want to get get into specific details but I know a lot of stuff that will come out later that I am appreciative that they’re being held accountable,” Mickelson said.

LIV is six events into its 14-tournament schedule this season with the next stop this week at Trump National outside Washington, D.C. Players have talked about the reception at the international events, especially last month in Australia.

Mickelson said “unequivocally” LIV is more popular outside the U.S. and was asked what it will take to catch on in the United States.

“Have a little bit more open mindedness, maybe, is my guess,” he said. “But the people that come out and are part of the tournaments, seem to be really enjoying it.

“Look, it’s not going anywhere. It’s going to continue to accelerate and hopefully people continue to give it a try.”

Open-mindedness from whom?

“Kind of everyone in the sense that golf’s been kind of a closed shop, right?,” he said. “Every tour is run by one organization. Golf had the same structure for, I don’t know, a century or two, and now we’re introducing it to a little bit different presentation.

“And it’s appealing to a little bit younger crowd and you kind of have to be open minded to give it a try and say, … ‘even though I’ve done it this way for decades and decades, maybe I should be open to looking at a different way.'”

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Complete lists of the golf equipment being used by Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland, Bryson DeChambeau and more

Check out the clubs that are in contention at the 2023 PGA Championship.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The weather on Saturday soaked Oak Hill Country Club, but Sunday has proven to be a perfect day to contest the 2023 PGA Championship.

At the start of the day, Brooks Koepka held a one-shot lead over Viktor Hovland and Cory Conners, but Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy were also in hot pursuit.

See a complete list of the golf equipment all the contenders at Oak Hill are using as they try to win the Wannamaker Trophy.

We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Golfweek operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Photos: Teaching pro Michael Block’s magical run at the PGA Championship has been something to see

It’s been an incredible week for Block, the California club pro who entered the final day in a tie for eighth place.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It’s been a magical week for Michael Block, the California club pro who entered the final day of the 105th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in a tie for eighth place.

Block was stunned when he found out he’d be paired with Rory McIlroy on Sunday. No golf club pro has ever placed higher than 11th in a PGA tournament.

During the second round, Block, the 46-year-old head professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California, birdied his first hole of the day to move into a tie for second place behind leader Bryson DeChambeau. He then birded his third and fifth hole.

He found himself in the company of such notables as Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Scottie Scheffler early in the second round of the PGA Championship and ended up shooting a second consecutive round of even-par 70 to ensure that he’d make the 36-hole cut. When his day was complete, he was tied for 13th place.

By Sunday he’d become a cult favorite of sorts, drawing crowds and cheers prior to this round.

One of the endearing features of this major is that several spots in the field are reserved for club pros like Block — and occasionally they make some noise, but rarely like Block has. He has been named the Southern California PGA Player of the Year in nine of the last 10 years (2013-2022, with the exception being 2017). He’s also a past California State Open champion.

The last PGA Professional to finish among the top 40 for the entire championship was Steve Schneiter, who tied for 40th in 2005 at Baltusrol.

Here’s a look at Block’s magical run in photos.

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PGA Championship: No. 13 has been a monster and it might make the difference at Oak Hill

The 612-yard hole has not yielded an eagle this week, and it will not be reachable on Sunday.

The 13th hole at Oak Hill Country Club is a monster par 5, playing to 612 yards in the fourth round of the PGA Championship.

The hole has not yielded an eagle this week, and at that length and with a creek running through the middle of the fairway, it will not be reachable on Sunday.

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The hole has been cut 7 yards from the front-middle portion of the green, which seems like an exposed location, but the flag is in a tricky spot.

The entire green complex tilts from back to front, but the hole is at the top of a thumbprint-style depression. Any ball that stops above the flag will leave a screamingly-fast putt, and shots that go left or right will leave a putt with a lot of break.

The make a birdie on Sunday, players will have to leave the ball below the hole and then putt up to it.

Club pro Michael Block celebrates another great 2023 PGA Championship round with beers at local pub

“I’ve learned at this point to enjoy the moment, to sit back and relax and enjoy it because it goes by fast.”

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — How did PGA club pro Michael Block, the Cinderella Story of the 105th PGA Championship, celebrate another hard day’s work of shooting even-par 70 at Oak Hill? He hit the town still dressed in his golf gear and had a few pints at the Pittsford Pub with golf fans. (Hey, he doesn’t tee off until 2 p.m. ET today.)

Block, 46, who teaches at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California, enters the final round tied for eighth and paired with Rory McIlroy, a day after playing with former U.S. Open champ and world No. 1 Justin Rose.

“I didn’t look at Rosey’s face for the first three holes because I’m a big fan of Rosey and I’ve watched him my whole life, and I knew it could get a little too intimidating, the fact that, holy crap, I’m sitting here playing with Justin Rose, and that might get too big for me, so I literally just kind of looked down, looked at his shoes the first couple holes, and got off to a decent start and went on from there,” Block said after his round.

Only Rose, with 14, has made more birdies this week than Block’s 13. He’s doing things that a club pro, who makes his living tending to the needs of his membership and rarely has time to play let alone practice, shouldn’t be doing and has practically never done before. Block was ahead of world No. 1 and Masters champ Jon Rahm, defending champ Justin Thomas, three-time major winner Jordan Spieth and Patrick Cantlay, his buddy from back home in Southern California who gives him odds when they play. Nevertheless, Block has a chance to become the first PGA club pro to finish in the top 10 at the PGA Championship, and a whole lot more.

“I can compete against these guys, to be honest,” said Block, a 10-time Southern California PGA Player of the Year. “I can compete against them. I can hang. I can post a 3- or 4-under (Sunday).”

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Asked how he can stay grounded when he’s become an overnight sensation in the golf world, he said, “Have you met my wife? She will keep you down to earth more than anyone in the world. She’s an Argentinian-Italian fireball that will tell me everything you don’t want to hear, but yeah, she’ll keep me down to earth like you have no idea. It’s pretty easy for me. I grew up in St. Louis, I grew up in Iowa, kind of combination, Midwest roots. My parents would never let me get outside my box, right.

“I’m just having fun. Everyone is so cool and the people are great. We go out to dinner, everyone is so awesome, and the fans have been amazing, you guys have been great, and I’m just having a good time.”

It’s one thing to stay grounded and another to embrace the media attention that’s been showered upon him and engage in ‘walk-and-talk’ interviews with the likes of ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt and CBS’s Jim Nantz, but Block is a charismatic fellow. Asked to explain how he’s handled it all with such aplomb, he said, “It’s built-in club professional. You deal with 600 different personalities, right? You’ve got a lawyer telling you how to grow grass and you’ve got an accountant telling you that the burger wasn’t cooked right. So you’ve got to deal with it and you know how to deal with everybody under the sun.

“That’s a natural thing for me. I don’t have to try to do that. I’m just being — like I said, I’m just being myself. That’s my big goal. My wife used to give me so much crap because for the first 100 interviews of my life back in the day, not with you guys but much smaller interviews, I was very, yes, yes, mm-hmm, mm-hmm, kind of what I hear honestly with a lot of the guys here when I see them doing this. It’s just like, dude…I just became way more natural. My wife really kind of told me to do that, and it’s worked out beautifully, so she was right.”

And Block also spouted off with some deep thoughts that transcend golf. He’s a modern-day philosopher, too, a Ferris Bueller in spikes.

“I’ve learned at this point to enjoy the moment, to sit back and relax and enjoy it because it goes by fast, and life goes by fast,” he said. “Before you know it, you’re 60 years old and retired and look back at the videos on this and remember that was the best week of my life, and more than likely this is probably going to be the best week of my life. So I’m going to sit back as much as I can with my friends and family at the house we rented and watch the videos tonight and see all my new followers on Instagram. It’s been crazy, it’s been awesome.”

And there’s still one more day of the Block Party to go.

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2023 PGA Championship: 5 things to know about Brooks Koepka’s bid for 5th major, Viktor Hovland’s game plan, Rory McIlroy is lurking, more

Koepka’s 66 was all the more impressive given that Oak Hill turned into Soak Hill for the third round.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – At his home in Jupiter, Florida, Brooks Koepka has his trophies on display.

“But I only put the big ones up there just to remind myself that’s there’s plenty more big ones to win,” Koepka said in “Full Swing,” the Netflix docuseries.

On Saturday, Koepka sank a 47-foot birdie putt at 17 to post the low round at Oak Hill for the second straight day – back-to-back rounds of 66 – to grab a one-stroke advantage atop the leaderboard over Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners after 54 holes at the 105th PGA Championship. Koepka will be bidding for a fifth major — he would become the 20th player to win five or more major titles — and third Wanamaker Trophy.

“To win one would be fantastic,” Koepka said. “I was just told that I think only Tiger and Jack have won three (in the modern era), so that would be pretty special to be in a list or category with them.”

Koepka’s 66 was all the more impressive given that Oak Hill turned into Soak Hill for the third round.

“It was just relentless really, from the start of the warmup to literally as we were putting out on the last green. There was very little wind, but that doesn’t stop it playing cold and long and wet,” said Tommy Fleetwood, who recorded one of the better rounds, a 68. “As the round goes on, it just turns into a bit more survival.”

Koepka, 33, survived a 2-over 72 in the opening round and patiently has clawed his way back to the top of the leaderboard. He did so with back-to-back birdies at Nos. 4 and 5, He made his lone bogey of the day at the seventh when he tugged his drive left and had to punch out of trouble. His putter warmed up on the second nine and he made birdies at Nos. 12 and 13 before sinking the long-range bomb at 17.

“That doesn’t go in, that’s probably six, eight feet by,” said Koepka, who finished at 6-under 204.

For the second straight major, Koepka, who defected to LIV Golf last summer after missing the cut at the U.S. Open, holds the 54-hole lead. But at the Masters, he conceded he “choked” on Sunday, as Jon Rahm slipped into the Green Jacket.

“I didn’t sleep Sunday night just trying to figure out what exactly it was. Thought about it for a few days after and really honed in on what I was doing and what went wrong,” Koepka said Tuesday. “From there just never let it happen again. That’s the whole goal, right?”

Koepka refuses to share what went wrong at Augusta, but he reiterated after Saturday’s round that he won’t make the same mistake twice.

“Learning what I learned at Augusta kind of helped today,” he said. “Like I said, I won’t do it again the rest of my career.”

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2023 PGA Championship tee times for Sunday’s final round at Oak Hill

Everything you need to know for Sunday’s final round at Oak Hill.

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Brooks Koepka, the four-time major champion and runner-up to Jon Rahm at the Masters last month, leads the 2023 PGA Championship by one stroke with 18 holes to play.

For the second consecutive day, Koepka posted the low round of the day, a 4-under 66. One behind are Corey Conners and Viktor Hovland. Hovland will play in the final group with Koepka. Bryson DeChambeau sits at 3 under, Scottie Scheffler is 2 under while Rory McIlroy is five back at 1 under.

Koepka is the betting favorite to win at +140, with Hovland second in line at +330.

Here’s everything you need to know for Sunday’s final round of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York.

More PGA: Live updates | How to watch

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Sunday tee times

1st tee

Tee time Player
7:50 a.m.
Ben Taylor, Mark Hubbard
8 a.m.
Joel Dahmen, Kazuki Higa
8:10 a.m.
Taylor Montgomery, Taylor Moore
8:20 a.m.
Justin Thomas, Phil Mickelson
8:30 a.m.
Rikuya Hoshino, Lee Hodges
8:40 a.m.
Sihwan Kim, Zach Johnson
8:50 a.m.
Padraig Harrington, Matt Wallace
9 a.m.
Adrian Meronk, Pablo Larrazabal
9:10 a.m.
Thomas Detry, Tony Finau
9:20 a.m.
Callum Tarren, Yannik Paul
9:30 a.m.
Max Homa, J.T. Poston
9:40 a.m.
Patrick Rodgers, Thriston Lawrence
9:50 a.m.
K.H Lee, Denny McCarthy
10:10 a.m.
Adam Hadwin, Adam Scott
10:20 a.m.
Sam Stevens, Nicolai Hojgaard
10:30 a.m.
Tom Hoge, Lucas Herbert
10:40 a.m.
Dean Burmester, Jon Rahm
10:50 a.m.
Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth
11 a.m.
Harold Varner III, Mito Pereira
11:10 a.m.
Collin Morikawa, Beau Hossler
11:20 a.m.
Xander Schauffele, Chez Reavie
11:30 a.m.
Alex Smalley, Thomas Pieters
11:40 am.
Keegan Bradley, Matt NeSmith
12 p.m.
Cam Smith, Hayden Buckley
12:10 p.m.
Tyrrell Hatton, Chris Kirk
12:20 p.m.
Keith Mitchell, Taylor Pendrith
12:30 p.m.
Adam Svensson, Sepp Straka
12:40 p.m.
Sahith Theegala, Patrick Cantlay
12:50 p.m.
Cam Davis, Hideki Matsuyama
1 p.m.
Kurt Kitayama, Ryan Fox
1:10 p.m.
Min Woo Lee, Patrick Reed
1:20 p.m.
Eric Cole, Shane Lowry
1:30 p.m.
Stephan Jaeger, Victor Perez
1:50 p.m.
Justin Suh, Tommy Fleetwood
2 p.m.
Rory McIlroy, Michael Block
2:10 p.m.
Justin Rose, Scottie Scheffler
2:20 p.m.
Corey Conners, Bryson DeChambeau
2:30 p.m.
Brooks Koepka, Viktor Hovland

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Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

Brooks Koepka is the betting favorite entering Sunday. Here are the odds with 18 holes to play at 2023 PGA Championship

Who’s your pick with 18 holes left?

With 18 holes to play at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, it’s anyone’s ballgame.

Brooks Koepka, for the second round in a row, posted the low score of the day. Consecutive 66s after an opening 72 has Koepka alone at the top at 6 under.

Viktor Hovland and Corey Conners are right behind the four-time major champion at 5 under while Bryson DeChambeau is 3 under. Scottie Scheffler and Justin Rose sit at 2 under, and Rory McIlroy, who will play with fan-favorite PGA pro Michael Block (even par) on Sunday, is five back at 1 under.

Here are the betting odds heading into Sunday at the PGA Championship, starting with the man one ahead of the pack.

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Position Score Player Odds to win
1 6 under Brooks Koepka (+115)
T-2 5 under Viktor Hovland (+330)
T-2 5 under Corey Conners (+450)
4 3 under Bryson DeChambeau (+1200)
T-5 2 under Justin Rose (+2500)
T-5 2 under Scottie Scheffler (+850)
7 1 under Rory McIlroy (+2200)
T-8 E Michael Block (+60000)
T-8 E Justin Suh (+25000)
T-10 1 over Tommy Fleetwood (+30000)
T-10 1 over Stephan Jaeger (+50000)
T-10 1 over Victor Perez (+50000)
T-10 1 over Eric Cole (+60000)
T-10 1 over Shane Lowry (+30000)
T-10 1 over Min Woo Lee (+40000)

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

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