For 68 holes of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, Michael Block was the picture of humility: a pro at a daily-fee course mixing it up with the elites of the game (“Block party breaks out at Oak Hill,” May 22 GGP). And in every interview, he was thankful and appreciative of all the attention. He was heading for a top-20 or so finish, the low club pro trophy, a lifetime of memories and some great stories for his buddies at home.
On his 69th hole, the golf god decided to test him. She let him slam dunk a 7-iron. Then on his last hole, she let him make a miraculous up-and-in to finish in the top 15. His story was a worthy co-star to Brooks Koepka’s win. How will he now handle his newfound fame?
Humility went out the door. He said to Bob Menery on the Ripper Magoo podcast that if he had Rory McIlroy’s length, he’d be one of the best players in the world, “hands down.” He then went on to say his iron game, wedge game, play around the greens and putting is “world class.” How's a DFL after two rounds at a short (by PGA Tour standards) Colonial fit into “world class”?
His performance at Oak Hill will never change. Maybe that wasn't enough.
Charlie Jurgonis
Fairfax, Virginia
Well, what is Global Golf Post now saying about LIV Golf?
Surely attention should be given to the performance of the LIV players who have shown their standard at the recent PGA Championship (“Koepka wills his way to another major title,” May 22 GGP).
It is time for you to offer support for this tour to be recognized and that the players should be allowed to play in all events, especially the Ryder Cup (“LIV’s Koepka makes strong Ryder bid,” May 22 GGP).
The female golfers, I am sure, will be part of LIV.
Martyn Harris
Macclesfield, Cheshire, England
Let’s put the Ryder Cup in perspective (“LIV’s Koepka makes strong Ryder bid,” May 22 GGP). It is the USA vs. Europe. It isn’t the PGA of America against the European Tour or the Asian Tour or any other tour. It’s the USA vs. Them.
The last thing in the world that should be allowed to interfere with player selection is pride. Our pride, or their pride, or the PGA of America’s pride, or anyone’s pride.
If pride is a factor, then it is the pride of our team against their team.
USA, USA, USA.
Both sides need to put the best team out there, tee it, and by God let’s get it on.
Woody Bell
Bradenton, Florida
Did John Hopkins leave his laptop open and let someone finish this for him (“Rochester and Oak Hill: A winning combo,” May 22 GGP)?
He wrote about Rochester: “… there are those who say a city that is less than three hours’ drive from Toronto around Lake Ontario and less than 100 miles from Niagara Falls is fading, even faded.”
Such a good article, until Hopkins took that shot.
It's not faded. It's regenerating its palette. The rest is garbage (plate).
Ronald Montesano
Buffalo, New York
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