The Sportsletter - Block Party ⛳️

BY JEFF YODER

MAY 22, 2023 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

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In a weekend full of playoffs, trophy ceremonies and season beginnings, one story topped them all. Michael Block charges $125 for golf lessons at his local course in California. He just earned $300,000 in a dreamy weekend that featured a Sunday hole-in-one. He didn’t win the PGA Championship, but he did.

“You could say, in many respects, we had two champions. Brooks Koepka takes the Wanamaker and Michael Block stole America’s hearts.” — Jim Nantz

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PGA ⛳️

Block Party: A 2-for-1 PGA Championship

Photo: Darren Carroll / Getty Images

Brooks Koepka (-9) Makes History With 5th Major Title, But the 'Everyman' Golf Instructor Michael Block Stole the Show

We’re not crying, you’re crying. Golf fans were treated to another blissful Sunday major yesterday for the 2023 PGA Championship where, not one, but two winners emerged. In an ironic twist and miraculous comeback from injury, Brooks Koepka — an LIV golfer — made history with his third PGA Championship win and his fifth career major victory. Koepka (-9) held the lead from wire-to-wire on Sunday with Viktor Hovland (-7) and Scottie Scheffler (-7) applying the pressure. But it was another golfer that stole the show at Oak Hill, and his name was Michael Block.

“You could say, in many respects, we had two champions. Brooks Koepka takes the Wanamaker and Michael Block stole America’s hearts.” — Jim Nantz (CBS Sports)

One event, two stories. We'll start with Brooksy.

Koepka’s Sunday Stronghold: Koepka and Hovland went toe-to-toe on Sunday in the final pairing while Scheffler climbed the leaderboard late with a 5-under Sunday finish. Both leaders hit magnificent approach shots one after another on the front-nine before Hovland stuttered with a few unlucky lies. Koepka was borderline flawless and made the tough test of Oak Hill look civilian. Hovland pulled within one stroke twice, but Koepka put distance between the two with three birdies in five holes (12th-16th) en route to his third Wanamaker Trophy.

Most PGA Championships (All-Time)

5: Walter Hagen, Jack Nicklaus

4: Tiger Woods

3: Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Brooks Koepka

The Block Party: Michael Block, a 46-year-old club pro who teaches lessons at a public course in California, earned the invite to Oak Hill, and what he did with the opportunity was nothing short of magical. Block fired two even-par 70s on Thursday and Friday to make the cut and play into the weekend. His legend quickly grew, and golf fans who had never heard of him (no one had) jumped on the Block bandwagon. Another 70 on Saturday slotted him in a Sunday pairing with Rory McIlroy. His response to that news: “Are you kidding me?”

The Ace Heard ‘Round the World: Just a normal golf pro living a dream, and he held his own on Sunday with McIlroy and a following of patrons beyond words. On the par-3 15th, Block dunked a hole-in-one and earned a hug from his playing partner. He was in disbelief. Block went on to make a stunning par save on the 18th in front of a roaring gallery to finished 15th. Significant, to say the least. The top-15 on the leaderboard automatically qualify for the 2024 PGA Championship, so we’ll be seeing Block again next year at Valhalla.

Final Leaderboard

B. Koepka (-9)

S. Scheffler (-7)

V. Hovland (-7)

B. DeChambeau (-3)

K. Kitayama (-3)

Other Notable Scorecards: C. Conners (-2), R. McIlroy (-2), C. Smith (-1), P. Cantlay (-1), J. Rose (-1), M. Block (+1), X. Schauffele (+2), P. Reed (+2), C. Morikawa (+4), J. Spieth (+5), J. Rahm (+7), D. Johnson (+9), P. Mickelson (+10) | Full Leaderboard

Watch: 2023 PGA Championship Highlights

The Ringer: Brooks Koepka Makes Uncomfortable History at the PGA Championship

Yahoo! Sports: Michael Block Hits Wild Ace to End Dream Week at Oak Hill

Golf Channel: The Fairytale Continues: Michael Block Receives Sponsor’s Invite to Play Next Week’s Charles Schwab Challenge

NBA PLAYOFFS

3-0: NBA Knockout Punches

Photo: Megan Briggs / Getty Images

Heat & Nuggets on Finals Collision Course, Take 3-0 Series Leads in Conference Finals

What could’ve been a potential Lakers-Celtics clash in the NBA Finals — the two winningest franchises in NBA history — is now over. The Nuggets and Heat delivered the potential knockout punches in Game 3s this weekend, and now L.A. and Boston are laying on the canvas struggling to get up. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit. Miami continued to shed the 8-seed underdog label with Sunday’s blowout. In lieu of Jimmy Butler’s best (just 16 points), Gabe Vincent popped off for 29 (6-for-9, 3pt). Boston’s star duo of Jaylen Brown (12) and Jayson Tatum (14) shot just 1-for-14 combined from deep. On Saturday, Jamal Murray (37) took the reigns in L.A. as the Nuggets pulled away in the 4th quarter. Each series is 3-0 with closeout Game 4s tonight and tomorrow.

Unheralded Heat Playmakers: Miami's trio of Gabe Vincent (29), Duncan Robinson (22) and Max Strus (10) are the first trio of undrafted teammates to score 10-plus in a half since 1966. Vincent had more than Tatum and Brown combined. Keep in mind, Miami is missing Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo.

Conference Finals Highlights

Gm 3: Nuggets def. Lakers (119-108) | DEN Leads (3-0)

Gm 3: Heat def. Celtics (128-102) | MIA Leads (3-0)

Top Game 3 Performers

J. Murray (DEN): 37 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists

G. Vincent (MIA): 29 points (6-for-9, 3pt)

A. Davis (LAL): 28 points, 18 rebounds

N. Jokic (DEN): 24 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists

L. James (LAL): 23 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 4: Nuggets at Lakers (8:30 pm ET)

ESPN: Lakers Outshined by Nuggets Again in Clutch Time, Face 3-0 Deficit

NHL PLAYOFFS

OT Overload: 4 Games, 7 Overtimes

Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

Panthers & Golden Knights Take 2-0 Leads in NHL Conference Finals Filled With OT Drama

Bonus hockey has been the storyline of the week in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Good for hockey fans. Bad for sleep. After the Panthers and Hurricanes played a 4OT thriller in Game 1, all three conference finals games since have needed extra hockey. The Panthers took Game 2 on another Matthew Tkachuk OT winner, and the Golden Knights took a 2-0 lead over the Stars with OT winners on Friday and Sunday — one from Brett Howden and another from Chandler Stephenson.

Conference Finals Highlights

Gm 2: Panthers def. Hurricanes (2-1, OT) | FLA Leads (2-0)

Gm 2: Golden Knights def. Stars (3-2, OT) | VGK Leads (2-0)

Top Game 2 Performers

J. Marchessault (VGK): 1 goal, 1 assist

C. Stephenson (VGK): 1 goal, 1 assist

M. Stone (VGK): 1 goal, 1 assist

M. Tkachuk (FLA): 1 goal

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 3: Hurricanes at Panthers (8:00 pm ET)

ESPN: Tkachuk Nets OT Winner (Again) as Panthers Take 2-0 Lead

PREMIER LEAGUE

Inevitable: City's EPL Coronation

Photo: Tom Flathers / Getty Images

1 Down, 2 To Go: Manchester City’s Treble Quest Gets Boost With Early Premier League Clinch

Done deal! After months of jockeying with Arsenal for control of the Premier League, Manchester City officially clinched the EPL crown on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Chelsea. Julian Alvarez (12’) scored the deciding goal before City cruised to victory at the Etihad. It’s City’s third straight Premier League trophy, fifth in six years and seventh overall. They’ll now set their sights on the elusive treble — winning all three competitions to finish out the 2022-23 season (see below). Arsenal, Newcastle and Manchester United round out the top-4 (Champions League bids next season) barring a Liverpool miracle in the final two weeks.

Watch: Manchester City def. Chelsea to Win EPL Crown

Premier League Table

1. Manchester City (88 points)

2. Arsenal (81 points)

3. Newcastle (69 points)

4. Manchester United (69 points)

5. Liverpool (66 points)

6. Brighton (61 points

7. Aston Villa (58 points)

8. Tottenham (57 points)

Manchester City’s Treble Quest

Premier League ✅

FA Cup: vs. Man. United (Sat. June 3, 10:00 am ET)

Champions League: vs. Inter (Sat. June 10, 3:00 pm ET)

Past European Treble-Winners

Barcelona (2), Bayern Munich (2), Ajax, Celtic, Inter, PSV, Manchester United

Yahoo! Sports: Manchester City Wins 7th Premier League Title, But Asterisks Could Be Coming

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

⚾️ MLB: Verlander, Scherzer Spark Mets Sweep

Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer allowed one combined run over 14 innings of a Sunday doubleheader against the Guardians. The Mets won both games (2-1 and 5-4) to complete the sweep.

🏀 WNBA: Stewy's 45-Point Night

The New York Liberty’s new star, Breanna Stewart, dropped 45 in a win on Saturday. Stewy broke the franchise scoring record and the WNBA record for most points in a home debut.

🎾 TENNIS: Medvedev Captures Italian Open Title

On the brink of the next tennis major, Daniil Medvedev claimed his first clay court title with a straight-set win over Holger Rune in the Italian Open final on Sunday.

🏇 HORSE: National Treasure Wins Preakness Stakes

No Triple Crown this year for Kentucky Derby winner Mage. The horse named National Treasure won Saturday’s Preakness Stakes by a nose in a thrilling stretch-run duel with Blazing Sevens. Mage finished third.

🥊 BOXING: Haney Holds Off Lomachenko

Controversy filled the ring Saturday night in Las Vegas as Devin Haney beat Vasyli Lomachenko by decision (116-112, 115-113, 115-113) to retain the men’s lightweight title. Haney is still undefeated (30-0).

NEWS 📰