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Local San Diego Teaching Pro in the Mix at the 2023 PGA

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Michael Block — golf’s common man who is still holding his own against the world’s top players at the PGA Championship this week — plugged his ears and shook his head, making a point of not wanting to hear how big his payday might be if he finishes among the top 10.

“Nope…Nope – I don’t want to hear it,” Block, the club professional out of Southern California, said Saturday. He revealed the largest paycheck he’s ever won from playing golf was $75,000, at the 2014 Club Professional National Championship at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Sufficed to say he will shatter that record in the next 24 hours!

“I don’t focus on what I might make or could make or anything like that. I pretty much am putting my head down,” he added after staying in contention with his third consecutive even-par 70 that has him tied for eighth at Oak Hill.

The mere fact the 46-year-old was paired with Justin Rose for the tournament’s third round was intimidating enough, Block refused to look at his playing partner’s face through the first few holes. Now get this, welcome to the show my main man, On Sunday, you will be paired with Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion. His reaction was timeless [watch below ???] – That’s just how he rolls.

“You serious?” “Wow. That should be fun. We’ll have a good time,” he continued before adding, “Wait…Really?”

That’s what makes him so likable – his authenticity! He is the type of guy who orders chicken wings between lessons at Royal Trabuco – his home course in Mission Viejo, CA. I can personally verify – he passes the airport test. If you were stuck on a layover in a strange airport he is exactly the kind of guy you would want to sit next to at the bar!

Try as he can, Block is unable to block (see what I did there) out all the hype he’s generating around the golf course, on social media and television, where he appeared to be a natural conducting a live interview with broadcasters Jim Nantz and Scott Van Pelt in between shots. He was cool as the other side of a pillow today while Mic’d up and firing shots like a seasoned veteran.

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“It’s just been awesome. Scott came up to me right before I was teeing off today and expressed how much he enjoyed the interview I had with him on 14 the other day,” Block said. “And I looked at my caddie and my friend, and I’m like, ‘This is ridiculous. I don’t even know what I’m doing.’”

Mike is making everything look relatively easy both on and off the course. On Saturday, he overcame a double bogey on the par-4 sixth and finished with three birdies and a bogey on the back nine. It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish!

Though he might seem out of his element, Block doesn’t lack confidence while competing in his seventh major. Fun Fact – This is the first in which he’s made the cut.

PAIRINGS

“I love Rosey, but I am not scared, I can compete against these guys, to be honest,” he added, referring to Rory. “I can hang. I can post a 3- or 4-under tomorrow, especially if I get the fairways rolling again.”

No matter the outcome on Sunday, Block has made it a point to enjoy every moment.

“Before you know it, you’re 60 years old and retired, and look back at the videos and remember that was the best week of my life,” Block said. “So I’m going to sit back as much as I can with my friends and my family at the house we rented and watch the videos tonight and see all my new followers on Instagram. It’s been crazy.” “I am like famous now…well kinda”

PRIZE PURSE

The winner of the PGA Championship will receive $3.15 million. Read that again! 3.15 Million Dollars.

The PGA of America said Saturday its prize fund is $17.5 million. That’s up from $15 million last year. The winner gets $500,000 less than Masters champion Jon Rahm earned last month.

The purses in the majors have been steadily increasing, though not at the rate of the PGA Tour, which this year has 11 tournaments with $20 million or more in prize money. The individual winner at each LIV Golf event gets $4 million from a $20 million purse.

Editors Note: He is a local icon and a personal friend… I asked him what he was going to do tonight. His response was exactly what I expected. ” Well Jaybo, a lil food, a little booze, then try to sleep and not stare at the wall all night”. You know me bro – I am just going to try to play like it’s a 4 ball with the boys at home.

“Bottom line, this is life-changing money, my man – dinner is on me next time we go out”

I am guessing all of So-Cal is rooting for our hometown boy! In the famous words of another Michael – “JUST DO IT”!

Oh and by the way my man, I am ordering the most expensive thing on the menu when we go out to dinner to celebrate! Go Get em Blocky! We got you.

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The 6 Most Ridiculous Rules in Golf

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Let’s get these changed ASAP huh Fellas?

Remember Dustin Johnson pleading to a rules official during the final round of the 2016 U.S. Open. I had his back and most of the world did too.

They say you can’t fix stupid, but you are able to complain about it and hopefully get it changed. Golf, this game we love, there is plenty of senselessness to go around. Witness the Rules of Golf, an encyclopedic catalog of do’s and don’ts that often fall beyond the bounds of reality

For argument’s sake, here’s our take on six of the dumbest rules in the most beloved sport on the planet. OK, maybe I am biased, but the game is pretty old and may need a little botox here and there. Just Sayin’

1. The Dreaded “DJ Rule

In the official ledger, it’s Rule 18-2. But ever since the 2016 U.S. Open, it’s more widely recognized as that *&%$!!!-ing Dustin Johnson Rule. You know, that nonsensical one under which the eventual tournament winner was slapped with a one-shot penalty for supposedly causing his ball to move a nano-millimeter on the 5th green. Never mind that he clearly didn’t intend to set the ball in motion, or that the micro-movement gave him no discernible advantage. The punishment stood. But we shouldn’t have to stand for it in the future. How about this? Next time around, no harm, no foul. Move the ball back, end of story!

2. No Relief from Sand-Filled Divots – In the fairway?

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Let’s see if we understand correctly: if we spray a tee shot off-line and our ball winds up in the ground under repair zone, we’re entitled to relief. But if we smoke one down the middle and it settles in a sand-filled crater left behind by another golfer, we’re doomed to play it as it lies. That ground we landed in happened to be damaged. Someone tried to repair it. Sounds to us like… the ground is under repair. Now Im no genius, but are you following me here?

2. The “DROP”

You’d think that hitting a shot into a hazard would be punishment enough. But you’d be wrong. Under the Rules of Golf, the dogged victim then has to go through the tedious ritual known as the drop, which brings other potential rules infractions into play. If the dropped ball moves closer to the hole (as it so often does) twice, the player gets to place it. So why not just allow placement from the start? It would spare the player undue pain, and save the rest of us a lot of time.

3. Stroke & Distance

In American jurisprudence, it’s known as double jeopardy, a procedural defense that protects us from being prosecuted twice for the same crime. Sounds reasonable, right? No such safeguard exists for a golfer who bangs a ball into oblivion, only to be slapped with a stroke penalty on top of loss of distance. That’s two punishments for one misdeed, and it’s unjust by any measure. We, the people, call for a one-stroke penalty and lateral relief. Motion Carries!

4. Sprinkler Head in Your Putting Line

Your approach shot lands pin high, just on the collar, and a straightforward putt awaits, with just one problem: a sprinkler head lies in your putting line. Common sense suggests that you should get relief, no closer to the hole; a sprinkler head, after all, is a man-made impediment. But common sense apparently has no place here. Your only hope is that the course you’re playing has a local rule that allows line-of-play relief from immovable obstructions within two club lengths of the green, which, let’s be reasonable here, should really be the rule that governs all play.

5. Five Minutes for a Lost Ball – Really?

That lax allowance dates back to a bygone era, when life moved at a pastoral pace and golfers had the luxury of lollygagging. This is the modern age. Chop, chop, time’s a-wasting. We’ve got cat videos to watch and vapid tweets to send. The game needs to adapt. And besides, if you can’t find that errant ball in two minutes, you probably don’t want to in the first place. It will be under a rock or in a bush but with just enough clearance that those 9 deadly words are uttered “I think I can get a club on it”

6. Cant move a ball from a footprint in a bunker – This one Grinds my Gears

It might make sense on Tour, where players all have caddies and the grounds are as well-groomed as the gardens of Versailles. But many of the courses we mortals play are under-tended and trod upon by etiquette-flouting chops who don’t even attempt to rake up their mess, creating hazards within hazards. The more sensible alternative: if your ball lands in a footprint in a bunker, move it and place it elsewhere in the sand. Done, End of rant. You may go about your business.

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When Golf Meets Supercars: The World Series of Golf Takes Over Skip Barber’s Mexico Resort

World Series of Golf partners with Skip Barber Racing for a two-year luxury sports series at Gran Reserva, Mexico – where championship golf meets supercars starting April 2026.

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Picture this. You’re standing on the 18th green at Gran Reserva, Mexico, finishing a round of championship golf with the World Series of Golf’s signature betting format still buzzing in your veins. The sun’s dropping low. Your heart’s still racing from that final putt.

And tomorrow? You’re driving a McLaren on Skip Barber’s brand-new racetrack.

Two Sports, One Unforgettable Weekend

The World Series of Golf just announced something we’ve never seen before. A two-year partnership with Skip Barber Racing School that transforms their new Mexican resort into the ultimate luxury sports destination. It’s not just golf. It’s not just racing. It’s both, wrapped into an experience that redefines what a sporting weekend can be.

Starting in April 2026, Gran Reserva becomes ground zero for a completely new kind of event.

Year One: The Foundation

The first year lays the groundwork. You’ll compete in the World Series of Golf championship using their patented tournament format – the one that adds poker-style betting mechanics to traditional stroke play and turns every hole into a strategic showdown. High stakes. Real tension. Golf the way it was meant to be played.

But here’s where it gets interesting. While you’re playing, Skip Barber’s building their racetrack right there on the property. You’ll see construction crews working on what will become one of North America’s most anticipated racing circuits. State-of-the-art simulators give you a taste of what’s coming, letting you experience the thrill of motorsports between rounds.

VIP receptions. Celebrity appearances. Curated culinary showcases that match the caliber of the competition. It’s an invitation-only event designed for people who expect excellence and aren’t willing to settle for anything less.

Year Two: The Payoff

Then 2027 hits. The track is finished. And suddenly you’re not just imagining what it’s like to drive a supercar at speed – you’re actually doing it.

McLaren. Ferrari. Mercedes. Lamborghini. Take your pick and put it through its paces on a circuit designed by people who’ve spent over 50 years teaching professional racers how to extract every ounce of performance from a machine. Skip Barber doesn’t mess around when it comes to motorsports education, and this track reflects that pedigree.

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You’ll stay in exclusive luxury accommodations at Gran Reserva, network with athletes and industry leaders, and experience both golf and racing at the highest possible level. All in one place. All in one unforgettable weekend.

Why This Matters

Michael Berg, CFO of Skip Barber Racing School, called it perfectly: “Guests will see the racetrack under construction during our first event and then drive world-class vehicles on it the following year.”

That’s the hook. You’re not just attending an event. You’re watching it evolve. You’re part of the story from day one, and by year two, you’re living the payoff.

Robert Davidman, CEO of the World Series of Golf, added this: “This partnership unites golf and motorsports in an elevated format that caters to international fans seeking competition, luxury, and adventure.”

Competition. Luxury. Adventure. Three words that sum up what makes this special.

Why Sponsors Are Paying Attention

Here’s what makes this different from every other golf tournament trying to get your marketing dollars.

The World Series of Golf’s patent-protected format keeps spectators glued to every shot. Shot-by-shot wagering. Antes that double every three holes. Strategic decisions that matter as much as swing mechanics. It’s golf designed for television, and television designed to keep people watching.

Add Skip Barber Racing to the mix and you’ve got something networks actually want to cover. Over 40 hours of TV coverage. More than 15 million media impressions. Five million-plus social media reach. This isn’t a local tournament hoping for some local news pickup. This is a broadcast-ready event with an audience that’s already paying attention.

The demographics tell the rest of the story. You’re reaching affluent golf enthusiasts who also appreciate high-performance automobiles. International travelers who think nothing of flying to Mexico for a weekend of luxury sports. Decision-makers and industry leaders who network at VIP receptions and actually have the authority to sign deals on the spot.

Title sponsorship gets you naming rights, eight playing positions, and premium TV exposure throughout the broadcast. But even smaller packages deliver value. Hole sponsors get exclusive on-course branding and social media mentions for ten grand. Golf cart wraps guarantee TV and photo exposure because every shot of the tournament includes your brand.

The opportunities are limited by design. Only 18 hole sponsors. Three presenting sponsors. One title sponsor. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Want the details? Check out the full sponsorship packages at wsg.golf/sponsorship.

The Bottom Line

This isn’t your typical golf tournament. It’s not your standard track day either. It’s something entirely new – a two-year luxury sports series that gives you the best of both worlds and raises the bar for what a sporting experience can deliver.

Year one plants the seed. Year two delivers the harvest. And whether you’re attending as a player or partnering as a sponsor, you’ll be there for both.

For player inquiries, contact events@skipbarber.com. For sponsorship opportunities, reach out to sponsorship@wsg.golf. These events are strictly invitation-only, and opportunities won’t last long.

Golf and supercars. Mexico and motorsports. The World Series of Golf and Skip Barber Racing School.

This is going to be something special.

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