Congratulations, Terry. I didn't think you'd retire until you'd pulled every last tooth in the Houston area.
Koepka had a 2 stroke 54 hole lead at the Masters and cratered on Sunday. He's got a 1 stroke 54 hole lead at the PGA. Can he finish it off? He has played very well so far.
Koepka's putter was deadly yesterday. He must have concentration or motivation problems. When it comes to majors it's like someone switched on his interest. I'm surprised at how well the LIV golfers are playing in the majors. Rahm kept them from the green jacket but I'm not sure that anyone can stop them from the Wanamaker.
Koepka doesn't look like he's going to fold, but he's got 6 holes to go with a 2 shot lead. The feel good story is club pro Michael Block who has played well all week and just got a hole in 1 on #15 flew into the hole!
Well both drove poorly on #16, Hovland into the bunker on the right and Koepka cleared the same bunker and is in the rough. Then Hovland blinked and hit a 9 iron into the face of the bunker where it embedded. He gets a free drop but there are no good places for him to drop. Hovland has an awkward stance and just flips it into the fairway, while Keopka hits a pitching wedge to inside 5 feet. Can't see Brooks losing now.
Michael Brooks has a great up and down on #18 to finish in the top 15, which will bring him back next year. What a tournament this unknown pga club pro has had, just the time of his life. Best finishes by a Club Pro in PGA Championship history. T-11 - 1986 - Lonnie Nielsen (Inverness Club) T-11 - 1974 - Tommy Aycock (Tanglewood Park G.C.) T-17 - 1988 - Jay Overton (Oak Tree) T-19 - 1990 - Bob Boyd (Shoal Creek) T-27 - 1983 - Buddy Whitten (Riviera) T-28 - 1992 - Tom Wargo (Bellerive) T-30 - 1994 - Bob Boyd (Southern Hills)
Koepka it is, Hovland will see that bunker shot on 16 in his dreams for awhile! Very good tournament, had good weather, brutal weather, a club pro who got the only hole in 1 in the tournament. Tight all the way. A healthy Brooks Koepka is a really good player!
One of the differences between the PGA in Aug. and in May is the weather. It was almost always played in the hot, humid days of summer. We had a 2 hr. frost delay to start one round. Hard to believe that Hovland did the exact same thing that Connor did yesterday. Koepka's score was exceptional considering the course and conditions. He's a majors machine. Without the ace, Block would have been the story of the tournament, what a week that guy had. Hope he gets a sponsor's exemption or two in other events.
One thing on Block, while he had a great/magical tournament, it's a bit much to expect him to suddenly play to that level in another PGA Tour event. IMHO I won't be shocked if does get a sponsor's exemption to play in a tournament, that he doesn't even come close to making the cut. This week he was able to come and play with no expectations, play loose. Next time with the spotlight on him from the start it will be different.
Nephew Matt did fairly well in the Sectional, didn't get a slot but shot -3 over 36 holes. There were 128 guys for 8 slots, and he was inside the top 50. Not bad for a guy who has a full time job and 2 young kids that leaves him no time to practice!
I hope he does well, but I fear that expectations and the spotlight will do him in. Block, 46, also was awarded an exemption into this week's PGA Tour event, the Charles Schwab Challenge. He's +50000 at the Caesars Sportsbook to win the event. And he took home a check for $288,333.
I've got to give the guy credit. Making the cut was an impressive achievement. And there he was playing the weekend with Rose and Rory and holding his game together. He's 46 and has to know something like this will never happen to him again. And he holds it together and on the final hole makes a great up and down to qualify for next year's PGA. I've seen the big boys fold under less pressure. Bet he enjoys this week regardless of what happens.
No surprise to me that Michael Block is dead last after the 1st 18 holes. Shot an 81 and sits at +11, four shots behind the next guy. It's just too much for a guy like that to have the spotlight on him and coming off a magical run at the PGA. I doubt if he does much better tomorrow. Who the hell is Harry Hall? The current leader.
It wasn't all bad for Michael Block, this shot off the bridge to the green was pretty amazing. Block cards 81 at Colonial; saves par from bridge