Block brilliance

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Golf fans, good morning! Brooks Koepka has just tamed Oak Hill, earning his fifth major victory.

1. Koepka crushes Oak Hill

Mark Schlabach …”In Sunday’s final round of the 105th PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka appeared determined to step up the gas early.

• He had three consecutive birdies on the first four golf holes, opening up a 4-shot advantage over Norway’s Viktor Hovland as well as Canada’s Corey Conners. He held on to his lead when Hovland, Scottie Scheffler and other world-class players made their moves in the back nine.

• “Koepka shot a 3-under-67 in the final day on Sunday, and was 9 under for 72 holes. He won the Wanamaker Trophy by two strokes over Scheffler and Hovland.”

2. Block Party

Yahoo’s Ryan Young …”Michael Block’s dream week of the PGA Championship did not end after 54 hole.”

• The 46-year old teaching professional had one final major moment on Sunday.

• Block pulled off a hole-in one at the par-3 fifteenth at Oak Hill Country Club, concluding a life-changing weekend at the second major of the year.

• Block’s shot at the 151-yard-hole was on target. “The ball landed in the hole and left him on the tee with Rory McIlroy, as fans lost their minds around them.”

3. ZJ on Ryder Cup LIV players

Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard …”Brooks Koepka had not even reached the turn at Oak Hill, and his performance in the year’s two major championships was already taking hold of the Ryder Cup story.”

• After Koepka finished second at the Masters and the PGA Championship, all hypotheticals regarding the U.S. team this year and players joining LIV Golf were rendered irrelevant. This reality was brought to the attention of this year’s U.S. Captain Zach Johnson. He was asked whether he would be “comfortable,” with a player from LIV Golf on the team.

• “I don’t know. Johnson replied, “I can’t. I’ll tell you this: the guys on the PGA Tour who make up that team have direct ownership of that collectively. It would be irresponsible for me to say I was comfortable or not with the team.

4. Mickelson: I know things others don’t

Mark Schlabach …” Mickelson: “It’s probably because I know certain things that others do not.” “I want to ensure that everyone is held accountable.”

• “Mickelson confirmed to the New York Times earlier this week that investigators of the U.S. Department of Justice had met him recently.” The federal government launched an investigation into the PGA Tour last year for its alleged antitrust conduct …”

• The Times reported that the federal government was investigating the PGA Tour’s relationship with the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), the Masters, PGA of America and the USGA.

• “Mickelson refused to reveal what he talked about with DOJ investigators.”

• Mickelson stated, “I’m aware of a lot that will be revealed later.”

5. Mickelson: LIV makes people money

Tom D’Angelo, Palm Beach Post …”Phil Mickelson answered that money was the greatest achievement of LIV Golf in the first year after its inaugural event.

• Mickelson said after the PGA Championship, when he finished with a score of 10-over-par 290: “It has provided 48 new opportunities for professional golf at the highest possible pay. That is incredible.”

• “One of them, of course is Mickelson. His reported $200 million contract was the largest ever given by the Saudi-financed Tour ….”

• “Mickelson who had his best weekend round Sunday with a 70 on even par, talked about how LIV was “holding many people accountable” as well as appealing to a “much younger” generation.

6. Michael Block’s old ad is a must-see

• Click the link to find out more!

7. Block in action fast

Adam Woodard is a Golfweek …”If Michael Block is something you’d like to see more of in your life, don’t worry, he won’t be returning to his day job as a club pro just yet.”

• Block will be taking his talents to PGA Tour after dazzling fans at the weekend, including an ace on Sunday’s final day. He also finished as the low-professional at the 2023 PGA Championship in Rochester, New York.

• The 46-year old who teaches golf at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, Mission Viejo in California, has received a sponsorship exemption to next week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth in Texas, from May 25-28.

8. Scheffler returns to World Number One

Scottie Scheffler rose to World Number 1 following his second place finish at the PGA Championship in Oak Hill. But it was no consolation after coming just short against Brook Koepka.”

• “A smiling Scheffler said that it was “nice”, to return to the top spot of the Official World Golf Ranking, but laughed off the situation and said “I really don’t care” when he complained about finishing two strokes behind Koepka.

• “Scheffler and Jon Rahm have been trading the top spot in the OWGR lately, and the Spaniard struggled at Oak Hill, he was replaced by the American as World No.1.”

9. Winning WITB

Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (10.5 degrees)

Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D Limited 70 TX (44.5 inches, tipped 1 inch)

3-wood: TaylorMade M2 Tour HL (16.5 degrees)

Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Nike Vapor Pro (3), Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-9)

Shaft: Fujikura Pro Tour Issue X100 (4i, 4-PW, 38 1/4-cut on 4-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour issue X100 (4i, 4-PW).

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore Raw Tour Rack (46-10 Mid), RTX6 ZipCore Raw Tour Rack (52-10, 56-10, 60-6 Mid)

Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Teryllium Scotty Cameron TNP2

Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord (Midsize), round grips

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond