From an All-Time Ace to a 300 Game, Wrapping Up a Highly Entertaining PGA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It was a PGA Championship that Jim Nantz would say was “a tournament unlike any other” if he hadn’t already burned a similar line on that April tournament. (What a waste.)
The Van Cynical Report looks at the week that was The Michael Block Variety Show, otherwise known as the 105th PGA Championship…
A 1 of a Kind: The Man of the Week, with apologies to champion Brooks Koepka, was club professional Michael Block, a 46-year-old who can really play this game. He got plenty of coverage all week and when things started to slip away from him in the final round, he flighted a 7-iron shot that dunked on the fly into the cup at the 15th hole for an ace. “That was probably the most surreal moment of my life,” Block told CBS later. Playing partner Rory McIlroy gave him an unexpected hug on the tee, unexpected because Block didn’t know his shot had gone in the hole. Block needed a crazy up-and-down par save at 18 to tie for 15th, which earned him an exemption for next year’s PGA Championship at Valhalla. “I’m living a dream,” he said. The feel-good story of the year, and that ace? It’s the Shot of the Year, count the basket right now.
The Perfect Game. Kazuki Higa bowled a perfect 300 game at Oak Hill Bowling Lanes ... no, wait, that was his golf score. The Japanese star, you may recall, electrified the PGA in the opening round when he parred his first hole, the 10th, then birdied four in a row. So four birdies in the first five. Then, just three birdies in the next 67 holes. Higa shot 77-78 on the weekend and finished 76th, last place. But at least he had such a memorable start, he earned a spot on this prestigious list.
Four Guys and a Bucket. It was a little more sophisticated than that but players got an additional perk to go with their humongous, gas-guzzling courtesy cars, which were mostly Cadillac Escalades. A crew was out in the parking lot using a power-washer to give them a daily shine. Presumably, they took Saturday off and let the torrential rain do the trick. Even though players were going to turn in their courtesy cars Sunday night and leave town, the crew was still out there hosing down the cars—one guy wielding the power-washer, one guy climbing up on the roofs to wipe them off (yeah, that roof better be spotless or you’re outta here!) and two guys doing the sides and windows. Even on Sunday? Isn’t that overkill? Clean never rests, people.
Who’s Number One? Let’s not get too carried away but the renovation of Oak Hill, the restoration of four original Donald Ross holes and the removal of trees puts Oak Hill in consideration as the best major championship site in the U.S. If you’re voting for scenery, there’s Pebble Beach and Whistling Straits. If you’re voting for brute toughness, there’s Oakmont and Oak Hill. If you’re voting for wind and real old-style golf, there’s Shinnecock Hills. Which one is the best? Oak Hill is going to get some votes after this.
The School of Block. Well, it was disappointing that new folk hero Michael Block didn’t inspire the rabid area golf fans to band together into some kind of Arnie’s Army club. He was a fan favorite after shooting even-par 70 the first three rounds, a remarkable performance for a 46-year-old club pro. Other fan groups in history include Lee’s Fleas (Trevino); Funk’s Punks (Fred Funk) and Lema’s Legion (Tony Lema), to name a few. My nominees for Block are The Blockheads; Beta-Blockers; Blockbusters; Block’s Partiers; and Block’s Flock. Vote early and often.
The King of Rochester: More Michael Block. When he was introduced on the first tee Sunday, he received a tremendous ovation thanks to all the media coverage of his remarkable club-pro underdog story. CBS host Jim Nantz said, “That’s the biggest ovation of the championship so far!” Block is never going to have to pay for a drink in Rochester the rest of his life—not counting in the wake of the ace. Brooks Koepka shook his hand as he headed to scoring after winning and told Block, “I hear you’re buying drinks.” Just this once.
The Water Works. I’ve been here for a big tournament in every decade since the 1980s and there hasn’t been one time when rain didn’t pester players and fans—but mostly me. That goes back to the 1989 U.S. Open, which was where the "Soak Hill" nickname was born. The Ryder Cup? Yes, early-week rain made the course play longer, which didn’t help the American team’s shorter hitters. The PGAs in ’03 and ’13; a Senior PGA in 2008. Saturday’s day-long rain pelted monsoon-like at times, and some areas where fans walked were still mucky quagmires Sunday. Sorry, I missed a U.S. Am and a second Senior PGA during that span but I got tired of having to pack a sump pump. Even Aussie Cameron Smith, who shot a closing 65 to finish tied for ninth, said of the wet third round, “It’s hard to say that was enjoyable.”
Shot of the Day, Runner-up Division: Nothing tops the Block ace, of course. Aussie Cam Davis blew a drive onto the putting surface at the par-4 14th hole Saturday, among the few, and did it again Sunday, this time holing the putt for an eagle. “As soon as I hit the driver, I felt it was as good as I could hit it,” said Davis, who tied for fourth. “I was almost worried about it going long … but it ended up seven or eight feet and the putt sneaked in there.”
Shot of the Day For the Wrong Reason: What looked like an instant replay at the 16th hole wasn’t a replay. Saturday, Corey Conners drove his approach shot from a fairway bunker under the lip and made double bogey. Sunday, Viktor Hovland was one shot behind Koepka, drove it into the same bunker and line his shot into the same bunker lip. He made double bogey, then Koepka hit his approach shot close to make birdie and open a four-shot lead and suddenly all-but-ice the victory. Hovland called his shot at 16 “unfortunate.” It was uncanny déjà vu.
The Halfway House. It was misinterpreted by many at the time but when Brooks Koepka was in the middle of winning four major titles in three years from 2017-19, he said he believed he could get to double figures in that category. He didn’t say he thought he could win 10, just double figures. Double figures could be 18, like Jack Nicklaus. He wasn’t asked to explain. But that was the old hard-ass Koepka. Since 1990, only Tiger Woods (15) and Phil Mickelson (6), have won more majors. Take note of the new Major Brooks: He nearly won a Masters in April, now he’s got his third PGA. He is halfway to double figures. Are you taking the bet that he can’t get to 10? I believed Koepka then; I don’t doubt him now.
The Other Number One: Scottie Scheffler tied for second with Viktor Hovland. He was asked if it was important to him to regain the No. 1 world ranking. “Do I become No. 1 again?” Scheffler said. Told he did, Scheffler said, “That’s great but I mean, it’s just an algorithm.” I dislike it when athletes use words that I have to check the spelling. Algorithm doesn’t look right even when it’s spelled correctly.
Quote of the week: Chris Sanger, the club pro from Woodstock (N.Y.) Country Club, a nine-hole course with no driving range, on where he practices: “On the course. In my head. Sometimes, in my garage.”