SUMMARY PGA CHAMPIONSHIP MAY 22, 2023 

SUMMARY PGA CHAMPIONSHIP MAY 22, 2023 

Except for the weather during the first 3 RDs, this was a terrific tournament, with 3 different leaders.  

First RD leader Bryson DeChambeau had an excellent tournament finishing in a tie for 4th-3.

Second RD leader Conners & Scheffler who bogied18 and has to settle for a tie for the lead.

Third RD leader Brooks Koepka goes into this round 3 strokes back.  Corey led through #15.  On 16 he hits a shot in the bunker that did not clear and was embedded between the sand and grass.  His DB and Koepka’s birdied on #17 gives Koepka a 1 stroke lead which he never gives up. 

Final RD leader Brooks Koepka birdies 3 of his first 4 holes for a 4 stroke lead and although there were runs by Hovland & Scheffler he never gave up his lead and wins by 2 strokes even with a bogie on 17.  It his 3rd PGA championship along with 2 US Opens and he becomes one of only 20 golfers with 5 major wins or more. Par was 280 and only 11 of the 76 players who made the cut were under par. Koepka won $3.1M for his win and has won $6.8M with LIV this year. Cory Conners finished 12th not 10th as reported on Page F(342).  Since there was a 3 way tie for 9th place he was bumped from #10.  However he did qualify for next years tournament by finishing in the top 15.   

BEST STORY PART 3

The Michael Block story continues to grow.  On Monday he appeared on GMA, The Today Show, and other TV shows including an interview with Rich Lerner of Golf Channel.  He said he will not be pursuing a career on any tours or change his $125 per hour rate for lessons and that Brooks Koepka volunteered to pick up his bar tab for his hole in one. He has been invited to play in the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial CG in Ft. Worth, a course that he says is made for him.  His OWGR has gone from 3,580 to 577 and hopefully will go higher with a good showing.  Ceaser Sportsbook has him 500/1.  Who knows, he may be a good bet!  Colonial was one of Ben Hogan’s favorites and he won the tournament 5 times. He has also been invited to play in the Canadian Open which is a week before the US Open. In Best Story part 1 page 9D(32) a typographical error has Michael Block playing in the 2028 US Open.  It was the 2018 Open, but the way he is playing, he very well  may make it in 2028. 

LIV PLAYERS PERFORMANCE

W  Paul Casey and Martin Kaymer withdrew due to injuries.

#1 Bruce Koepka won the tournament by 2 strokes and was the best player in the field.

#4 Bryson DeChambeau did well.  He was the leader after RD 1 and finished tied for 4th. 

#9 Cameron Smith finished tied for 9th and shot 65 in the final tied for low round.

#18 Mito Pereira who last year gave away the tournament by DB #18, finished tied for 18th.

#18 Patrick Reed had a decent 4 rounds and finished tied for 18th.

#29 Harold Varner III Finished tied for 29th, much better than expected.

#40 Thomas Pieters tied for #40, same as Varner, he is not one of LIV’s elite players.

#54 Dean Burmester same as 2 players above.

#55 Dustin Johnson  He was 20/1, and only 1 stroke back after round1. Then went+12 on his next 3 RDs, with 3 74’s.  Big disappointment.

#58 Phil Mickelson Finished+10 tied for 58th.  Surprisingly, he got a good reaction from fans.

#62 Sihwan Kim+11.  Least known of players named Kim.  He was 500/1.

CUT Brendan Steel+6 just missed cut.  He has won $3.3M this year on LIV.

CUT Anirban Lahiri+7 Ranked #14 of 48 LIV players and has won $3.0M this year.

CUT Taylor Gooch He was 40/1 but is one of the better payers on the LIV Tour for 2 years.

CUT Joaquin Niemann 75/1 I thought he would play better.  One of the outspoken and strong supporters of LIV ranked #6.  He has said that LIV is a better Tour than the PGA. 

CUT Abraham Ancer He was+11 with 1 DB, 11bogies, 2 birdies in 2 RDs. Odds 80/1

LIV COMMENTERY 

There were 18 players invited from LIV with 70% making the cut.  PGA and others amounted to 46% making cut.  % figure is not completely accurate as LIV had most of their best players and balance of field included 20 club pros, and some other less talented players.  However, LIV did produce the winner and 2 other top 10 with only 10% of the field.

LIV FUTURE

I get the feeling that if he could, Koepka would return to the PGA.  Just a feeling, but while Mickelson and DeChambeau wore their LIV uniforms, Koepka wore his Nike hat and shirt. He is also a free thinker and somewhat of a rebel.  I feel his motivation to join LIV, like a few others, was his health and a concern about his golf future, so he took the guaranteed money. It is difficult to get solid information on LIV contracts, but it appears that players will pay severe penalties if they do not fulfill their contracts.  Here is what I was able to find out about Brook Koepka’s contract.  He was paid $1M to join in 2022 and his contract runs until the end of 2024.  If he violates his contract he would have to pay 2,3 or 4 X his signing bonus. However, in 2022 LIV was not able to sign any big stars.  Even their young players are not playing that well.  With 2 more majors ahead and most of LIV’s best players in the field it will be very interesting as to how they do.      

SAUDIS INVOLVEMENT

If the Saudis keep throwing big money around with little return, LIV may survive, but it will probably replace or merge with the DP World Tour.  They will concentrate on venues in Asia, Australia, Middle East and maybe few in the UK, Europe and the even the US.  What they must do is develop a small group of superstars which has been a part of professional golf since 1843 with  Allan Robertson, Old Tom Morris and Willie Park to Scheffler, Rahm and Rory today. There were also about 4 to 6 (“Big 3’s) for every era.  If LIV can keep Brooks, Camron Smith & Dustin Johnson and have players like Taylor Gooch, Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann, Mito Pereira, and a youngster like James Piot compliment them, they could be a factor. However, I think they have to go back to the traditional way.  No shot gun starts, no teams, 72 mot 54 hole tournaments, no loud music, no shorts etc.  It may be attracting a younger audience and may work, but I do not believe it is a long term entertainment format. 42 out of 48 players have already made over $1M this year.