For the upcoming PGA Championship, Gooch won’t have to figure out a way in any longer, as he announced on social media Monday afternoon that he was extended an invitation to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for the second men’s major of the year by the PGA of America.
Fellow LIV golfer Joaquin Niemann, who said he will try to make the USGA’s national championship via qualifying, also received a PGA invite for 2024.
Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press reported that the PGA of America likely won’t release the 2024 field until Tuesday but Gooch will be among the 156 golfers in the field.
“I had realized that before, but that was … boom! Right in the face.”
For Jack Nicklaus, the moment came in 2000 at Valhalla, the site of next week’s PGA Championship.
Nicklaus, then 60, was playing in what would be his final PGA Championship. He missed the cut at 4 over, not able to recover from an opening-round 77. And when he walked off the course it hit him.
“Man, you need to pass the baton,” Nicklaus said he was thinking. “You can’t compete in this anymore.”
And it was the man who he had just competed against who made Jack realize it was time to move on from competitive golf.
Nicklaus, who lives in North Palm Beach, played those two rounds with Tiger Woods, who now lives on Jupiter Island. Tiger opened with a 66-67 on the way to an 18-under 270 and his third consecutive major championship of the season.
Nicklaus, 84, spoke of that moment last week at the Legends Luncheon in Columbus, Ohio, hosted by the Memorial Tournament, which is scheduled for June 6-9 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. Nicklaus is the founder and host of the Memorial.
“I knew that I was getting to where I couldn’t compete (and) it was brought to me very abruptly, in 2000 at Valhalla when I played with Tiger,” he said.
“I had realized that before, but that was … boom! Right in the face. Thirty-six holes of playing with him and seeing how well he played, how he just dominated what was going on, I did that earlier. But I don’t do it now.”
Jack knew who would be carrying that “baton,” as it turned out, for about the next quarter century, which is why that metaphorical handoff was to Tiger. That 2000 PGA Championship was Tiger’s fifth major. He would add 10 more, pulling him to within three of Nicklaus’ record.
And although Tiger, 48, isn’t through chasing majors – he will return to the site of that 2000 PGA Championship next week – it will be an international story even if he just contends in a major going forward.
Nicklaus never has denied Tiger’s extraordinary skill, several times saying his record of 18 majors would have fallen if injuries had not impacted Tiger’s career. He once again praised Tiger’s game, his swing and ability to hit shots that still very few human beings can replicate.
Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. (Golfweek File Photo)
But it’s the physical toll of multiple injuries, surgeries, and the 2021 car crash outside of Los Angeles in which Tiger nearly lost his right leg that Jack cites as the reason it would be very difficult for Tiger now to compete consistently on the biggest stage.
Something Tiger has been saying for the last two years.
“Tiger has the ability to still play, but obviously doesn’t play as well as he did, and I think a lot of his is physical ailments,” Nicklaus said. “But I watched him hit balls, and he hits the ball pretty well. It’s just trying to keep his body together.
“I don’t know if he can walk 72 holes. He can be competitive for at least two rounds, because that’s what he did at Augusta. … If he can be competitive in the third, then certainly he can be competitive in the fourth.”
Masters 2024 microcosm of Tiger’s post-accident career
This year’s Masters was a microcosm of Tiger’s post-accident career. He set the tournament record with his 24th consecutive cut with a two-day score of 145, 1-over par. But by the weekend his body started breaking down. Woods posted his worst score ever at Augusta in the third round, 10-over 82.
In five majors since the accident, which resulted in his leg being held together by plates, rods and screws, Tiger has been forced to withdraw after the second or third round twice, and missed the cut once.
Tiger’s stunning victory in the 2019 Masters is his lone major championship in the last 16 years. During that span, he has missed 23 of 67 majors.
The 1986 Masters was the last of Jack’s 18 major championships. He was 46. He continued to compete in all four majors for the next 11 years, sixth-place finishes in the 1990 and 1998 Masters the closest he’d come to winning.
The last time Nicklaus played a round of golf where he holed out every putt was the 2005 British Open at St. Andrews. That was the last of his record 164 majors. He rarely plays, but did reveal he got in three rounds at Augusta following this year’s tournament.
“Life passes on and you get old and can’t do the things you used to do,” Nicklaus said. “I just think golf is an amazing sport, and we have the ability to play and compete as long as we do. And find lightning in a bottle occasionally, like I did in ’86.”
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and golf writer for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
“Just keep grinding away, keep doing the work, and hopefully something will turn around,” said Koepka.
Brooks Koepka is known for his swagger and confidence, but with two weeks to go until his PGA Championship title defense, the five-time major champion isn’t feeling very good about his chances at Valhalla Golf Club for the second men’s major of the year.
While speaking with the media ahead of 2024 LIV Golf Singapore at Sentosa Golf Club this week, Koepka said he felt like he wasted time from December until last month’s Masters, where he finished T-45 at 9 over thanks to four rounds over par of 73-73-76-75.
“Just keep grinding away, keep doing the work, and hopefully something will turn around,” said Koepka, who then criticized his poor putting as the main reason for his struggles.
“Ball doesn’t go in the hole, that’s usually one of them. I don’t know how else to simply put it,” he said of his woes with the flatstick. “I feel like I’m hitting good putts, they just keep burning lips. Eventually it starts to wear on you after a while. All you can do is hit a good putt and see where it goes from there. Hopefully they start falling soon.”
“I can’t find the hole at all, to be honest with you,” he added. “Something we’ve just been putting some work into, so trying to find some answers.”
Koepka switched to a mallet putter two weeks before the Masters and hasn’t touched the previous putter that he’s used for the last dozen years since.
So far this LIV Golf season, Koepka has two top-10 finishes (T-5 in the season opener in Mexico and T-9 last week in Australia) as well as a head-scratching T-45 out of 54 players in Miami.
Niemann is now in three of the four major championships in 2024, and he plans to qualify for the fourth.
LIV Golf’s Joaquin Niemann has teed it up across the world over the last year in an attempt to earn enough Official World Golf Ranking points to qualify for the 2024 major championships.
He earned a spot in the Open Championship via the Open Qualifying Series thanks to his win at the ISPS Handa Australian Open back in December. Two weeks ago he received a special invitation to the Masters, and now the PGA of America has followed suit.
Golfweek has confirmed the 25-year-old has received a special invitation to the 2024 PGA Championship, May 16-19, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
Niemann broke the news in a Monday interview with GolfWRX and also confirmed that he would try to qualify for the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, June 13-16. That said, he might not need to qualify. The Chilean has been one of, if not the, hottest players in the world over the last five months and could earn enough OWGR points with high finishes in the Masters and PGA Championship. He could also pick up points in Asian Tour events around the LIV Golf schedule.
The USGA invites players inside the top 60 in the OWGR as of the tournament date and also two weeks before. Niemann is currently No. 76 in the OWGR.
There’s nearly $400 million in official prize money up for grabs in 2024 on the PGA Tour.
There are 38 events on the PGA Tour’s 2024 schedule, with 37 of them doling out $398,900,000 in prize money payouts.
The Tour Championship provides the biggest paydays to the lucky 30 who reach the season finale, but all of the money distributed at East Lake Golf Club is considered bonus.
So it’s the first 37 events of the season that the write checks – or shall we say, eletronic transfers – the big sums that count towards the official money list.
The Players Championship has the most official money at stake. There are eight signature events with $20 million purses. There’s the majors and the FedEx Cup Playoff events. Then there’s the best of the rest and finally the four opposite-field affairs.
To repeat, there’s nearly $400 million in official prize money and another $75 in bonus money up for grabs on the PGA Tour in 2024. Here’s a breakdown.
The 47-year-old club pro who forever became part of PGA Championship lore found lightning in a bottle once again.
After becoming the biggest story of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, Michael Block had largely retreated to a life of teaching the game at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California.
After his triumphant showing, Block made subsequent appearances at the Charles Schwab Challenge and RBC Canadian Open, but missed the cut in both events.
But the 47-year-old club pro — who forever became part of PGA Championship lore when he aced the 151-yard par-3 15th hole at Oak Hill on Sunday with a 7-iron — found lightning in a bottle again on Thursday when he traveled to Valhalla Golf Club in Lousiville as part of a scouting trip for next year’s tournament.
Block carded seven birdies and an eagle during the practice round on Thursday, finishing his round at 9 under and tying the course record, a mark that was set by Jose Maria Olazabal at the 2000 PGA Championship.
Michael Block just tied the course record @ValhallaGolf with a 63 this afternoon as he got a look at the course ahead of the 2024 @PGAChampionship.
Block’s wild ride at the 2023 event in Upstate New York netted him nearly $300,000 as he placed him in a tie for 15th, captivating golf fans around the country in the process.
During the final round, Block aced the par-3 No. 15 hole with a shot that he dunked straight into the cup, without even hitting the flagpole. The hole-in-one brought Block’s score to even-par after his up-and-down round.
Block was paired with Rory McIlroy, the No. 3 player in the Official World Golf Ranking and four-time major winner. After Block sunk his shot at 15, McIlroy went over and gave him a hug as both players smiled. Block, seemingly in disbelief, was caught on the broadcast saying: “That didn’t go in, did it? No, no. No way. No way.”
With his finish in the top 20, Block automatically earned a berth into the 2024 event at Valhalla.
It’s been quite a year for Marcus Byrd on the APGA Tour. Record-setting, in fact.
On Tuesday, Byrd took home the trophy for the fourth time this year, the most in the fledgling tour’s history, as he shot a 4-under 67 to win APGA at Valhalla Golf Club.
Byrd, 26, topped Ryan Ellerbrock, who was making his APGA Tour debut, by three strokes to secure the victory. Quinn Riley and Rovonta Young finished four shots off the pace in a tie for third.
“The last six months have been incredible, but it’s been non-stop. I feel like I’ve gotten these opportunities and haven’t performed the way I wanted,” Byrd said, in reference to a few PGA Tour appearances that haven’t led to much success. “I took some time off after the John Deere Classic and it’s really helped with this win today. My goals now are Korn Ferry Tour Q-School in the fall and to win the APGA Tour Lexus Cup Point Standings.”
Marcus Byrd. Photo: Courtesy APGA Tour.
The four victories in a season eclipse the previous mark of three held by both Willie Mack III and Tim O’Neal. Mack is now on the Korn Ferry Tour full-time and O’Neal has full status on the PGA Tour Champions.
Next up is the APGA Two-Man Classic at TPC Louisiana in New Orleans, starting on July 30, followed by the APGA Ascension Classic in St. Louis follows on August 8-10 at Glen Echo Country Club.
The regular season then concludes with the Mastercard APGA Tour Championship at TPC Sugarloaf from August 13-15.
Several Valhalla members form investment group to buy Valhalla, past site of majors and a Ryder Cup as well as the 2024 PGA.
Valhalla Golf Club has been sold by the PGA of America to a group of Louisville investors who want to “continue to bring major championships” to Kentucky, according to new co-owner Jimmy Kirchdorfer.
“Valhalla, for a 36-year-old club, has amazing history,” said Kirchdorfer, an executive with ISCO Industries. “It’s already hosted a Ryder Cup and three major championships. We just saw it as important that this is returned to local ownership. That way, we can control. We know people are going to operate in the best interest of the community.”
Kirchdorfer is a Valhalla board member who joined the club in 2004 and has previously worked with the PGA on events that have been held at the course. Three other well-known local executives joined him in the purchase: former Yum! Brands CEO David Novak, Musselman Hotels President Chester Musselman and Junior Bridgeman, a former University of Louisville basketball player who built an entrepreneurial empire following a 12-year run in the NBA.
The PGA, which bought the course from founder Dwight Gahm in 2000, confirmed the sale in a Wednesday press release, and Valhalla members were informed in an email from Keith Reese, the club’s general manager. The sale is effective immediately, according to Kirchdorfer, who did not disclose the cost of the course.
USA captain Paul Azinger is sprayed with champagne after defeating the Europeans on Day 3 of the 37th Ryder Cup at the Valhalla Golf Club in 2008. (Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports)
“Valhalla Golf Club has proven itself to be a wonderful test of championship golf, one that is as fair as it is challenging for the top golfers in the world,” PGA of America President Jim Richerson wrote in the release. “We look forward to partnering with the new ownership group on a highly anticipated 2024 PGA Championship and working with the new owners to continue to have it as one of our championship sites.”
Valhalla, which stands on nearly 500 acres in eastern Jefferson County, is “an icon in the community,” Kirchdorfer said. It had been the only private club owned and operated by the PGA, and it was ranked by Golfweek’s Best as the No. 1 private course in the state. It ties for No. 74 on Golfweek’s Best 2022 ranking of Modern Courses in the U.S.
The course was designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus ahead of its opening in 1986 and has hosted three PGA Championship tournaments, including a famed victory by Tiger Woods in 2000. It was home to the Ryder Cup in 2008, bringing stars of the sport from around the world to Louisville, and is set to host the PGA Championship again in 2024.
Kirchdorfer, a longtime golf advocate, said he got to work forming a group to bid on Valhalla after members were informed in November that the PGA had been approached by a potential buyer and would entertain other offers. All four buyers are longtime members of the club.
Tiger Woods celebrates making a birdie putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff at the 2000 PGA Championship at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. (Donald Miralle/Allsport)
Valhalla’s status brings value to the community, he said, which the ownership group took into consideration. And while some club members expressed concerns over potential redevelopment when it hit the market last year, Kirchdorfer said the 18-hole course isn’t going anywhere.
Instead, the ownership group will work to highlight “Kentucky hospitality,” he said, and “build upon the great tradition and culture that’s already there.” So, concerned club members and others in the Louisville golf community have got that going for them, which is nice.
“Valhalla’s the crown jewel of Kentucky golf, and we wanted it locally owned like it was with the Gahm family,” Kirchdorfer said. “The Gahm family had an amazing vision and took a big risk when they took a farm and hired Jack Nicklaus to build a golf course with the hopes of bringing major championship golf to this community – and they succeeded, which a lot of people don’t.
“We just wanted to make sure that the next owners had the same mission of doing what’s best for Valhalla and the community of Louisville.”
The new owners have plenty of work to do in the next two years ahead of the 2024 PGA Championship, set for May 16-19 that year. The group plans to invest in the property to ensure it’s a “reflection of our community,” Kirchdorfer said.
An impressive turn at that 2024 tournament can send a message to the PGA – which works to promote the game with more than 28,000 members – that Louisville is a capable host for the sport’s biggest moments, according to Kirchdorfer, who previously served as vice chair of a Louisville PGA Championship.
“When we show how much this community will support the ’24 championship, we’re confident they’ll continue to bring more championships,” he said.
Auctioned rounds of golf at famous courses like Shinnecock, Medalist and more raised $100,000 for coronavirus workers.
You know something’s not right when you feel guilty on a golf course.
That was precisely Eric Sedransk’s predicament. You see, he left his apartment in New York City on March 16 to stay with his parents during the pandemic. While he was working on his short game in beautiful Hilton Head, South Carolina, his friends back in the city were all weathering the coronavirus storm.
The 35-year-old has a passion for not just golf, but giving back. So he asked himself an important question: What can I do?
“There’s two things I have: One is I have a relatively decent following on Instagram and through playing golf I have a pretty good network of both members and club professionals at pretty high-end golf courses,” explained Sedransk. “So I thought ‘You know what? I’m just going to reach out.’”
And that’s what he did. He explained how he wanted to auction off rounds of golf with all the proceeds going to charity, and clubs started saying yes. Over eight days from May 13-21, the @Member4aDay Auction raised more than $100,000 to provide over 10,000 meals for frontline hospital workers in New York City.
As if that isn’t impressive enough, Sedransk did it mainly by himself in just three weeks. He didn’t take a penny. In fact, he lost money.
What’s my $25,000?
Once the ball got rolling, it came time to choose the charity. Sedransk said it didn’t feel right working with one of the big organizations, and he had a reason.
“I had no idea how much money I was going to raise, so if I’m donating to a charity that raises $50 million a year, what’s my $25,000?” said Sedransk. A friend connected him to Project Frontline, whose goal is simple: Help feed healthcare workers across the country.
For two and a half weeks Sedransk hustled to get as many courses on board as possible, and he wasn’t going for the easy ones. Sedransk wanted the best-of-the-best. Courses like Shinnecock Hills, Medalist, Preswick (Scotland), Interlachen, Valhalla, etc. Ever heard of them?
When the site launched, he had 20 signed on. The only public course was Sweetens Cove, Golfweek’s top-ranked track you can play in the state of Tennessee.
Within the first 24 hours, @Member4aDay Auction raised $12,000, which was considerably above Sedransk’s target goal of $50,000, realistically thinking they’d get $25,000-$30,000.
“The most interesting part to me was the response I got from people I don’t know. All of a sudden I started getting messages from both members and club professionals wanting to pitch in and help,” said Sedransk, who was adding courses up until 24 hours before the end of the auction.
Eric Sedransk at Sea Pines. (Photo: Patrick Koenig)
When time ran out, 48 auction items were donated, more than double what he started with. More than 220 individual people submitted bids. Groups of friends were even on conference calls working together as teams to try and earn a winning bid.
“More than 50 percent of rounds donated came from people that I’ve never met out of the goodness of their heart,” said Sedransk.
One final push
With three hours to go, the total was $65,000. Sedransk put the auction site up on his parents TV and watched the total rise as time expired. With less than 10 minutes on the clock, a bid for $11,000 for a round at Shinnecock, host of the 2018 U.S. Open, came in.
“When I first set out to do this I thought the only reason people would bid would be 90 percent to play the incredible golf course and 10 percent because it’s charitable,” said Sedransk. “At the end, I think it might be more charity, less golf.”
The auction total finished right around $96,000. When time ran out, Sedransk got emails from people asking if any other rounds were available. He can’t explain why, but he reached out to one of the courses to ask for one more round. The head pro said if the bid is enough to get the total over $100,000 he’d host another foursome, and the deal was done.
“We all have this desire during times of need to give back. The first question is always ‘how?’ What I want people to know is I don’t have a magic bullet, there’s no reason it was successful. I just went out and did it,” said Sedransk. “If you really want to give back and you’re willing to put the effort in, you can do something just as well as I did and make a real difference.”
