For comments: ben.alberstadt@golfwrx.com

Good Tuesday morning, golf fans, as we gear up for the Canadian Open.

1. Three more LIV pros qualify for U.S. Open

Our Matt Vincenzi… “With a growing number of non-exempt LIV golfers quickly falling down the Official World Golf Rankings, many were forced to try and qualify for the U.S. Open through local qualifying.

• “Among the LIV golfers who were able to qualify yesterday was Sebastian Munoz, who qualified at Woodmont CC, Rockville, Maryland. Carlos Ortiz qualified at Pine Tree Golf Club, Boynton Beach, Florida after winning in a playoff. David Puig, the 21-year-old former Arizona State Sun Devil, qualified at Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles.”

• “The three will join Sergio Garcia, who qualified last month in Dallas, at Las Angeles Country Club next week.”

2. Block misses out

ESPN Report…”Michael Block, the teaching pro who finished tied for 15th at last month’s PGA Championship, came up short in his bid to qualify for next week’s U.S. Open.”

• “Block shot a 36-hole score of 5-under 135 at Lambton Golf & Country Club in Toronto on Monday to finish just shy of qualifying. Twenty-seven players competed for three spots at Lambton; Block finished in sixth place, 2 shots out of third.”

• “Medalist Ryan Gerard (11 under), Vincent Norman (8 under) and Ryan Armour (7 under) grabbed the three qualifying spots at the venue.”

3. Hovland the caddie

Reuters report…”Less than 24 hours after securing the biggest win of his PGA Tour career, Norwegian world No. 5 Viktor Hovland is caddying Monday for a former college teammate who is looking to secure a spot in next week’s U.S. Open.”

• “Hovland earned his fourth PGA Tour title Sunday and first on U.S. soil at the Jack Nicklaus-hosted Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, and will now caddie for Zach Bauchou in Monday’s 36-hole qualifier in nearby Columbus.

4. Nichols: Zhang could be transcendent

Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols…”The LPGA has been desperate for a moment like this. There hasn’t been a player on the LPGA with the potential to move the needle in the United States like Rose Zhang since a prodigious Michelle Wie West.”

• “Several players have risen to the level of “household name” on the LPGA in the past two decades, but those were households outside of the U.S. Ariya Jutanugarn, for example, became the first Thai player to win a major and ascend to No. 1 in the world. Her face was on a Gatorade bottle in Thailand, but her name never resonated here in the U.S.”

5. Biondi goes pro

Golf Channel’s Brantley Romine….“The whole day, people kept asking me what my [future] plans were,” Biondi said, “and I couldn’t answer them because I didn’t even know.”

• “By Friday afternoon, though, Biondi found his answer. After much discussion with his agent, family and coaches, Biondi decided to turn professional and make his pro debut at this week’s BMW Charity Pro-Am on the Korn Ferry Tour.”

• “Courtesy of his second-place finish in PGA Tour University, Biondi has full status for the remainder of the KFT season, which has 14 events remaining, including three limited-field, elevated-points events that culminate with the KFT Championship in early October. Of course, Biondi also had the option, thanks to his individual win at Grayhawk, to remain amateur, bypassing his PGA Tour U opportunities, and compete in this month’s U.S. Open and next April’s Masters Tournament.”

6. Phil’s big Bones claim

7. Phil’s reply to gambling callout

Our Jason Daniels…”In reply, a parody account for the convicted former CEO of Enron, got involved in the gambling debate.”

• ‘Mr. Skilling’ jumped on Mickelson’s reply, asking, “Speaking of professional help, how is your gambling addiction?” and in classic Lefty style he retorted that he hadn’t “gambled in years,” and was “almost a billionaire now.”

8. MacKinnon: Brandel & Eamon should lambaste NBC, China, too

Douglas MacKinnon for the Palm Beach Daily News…”That stated, let’s turn our attention to the People’s Republic of China and its multi-multi-million-dollar partnerships – such as the past winter Olympics – with NBC Sports.  The same company that owns the Golf Channel.”

• “As they continually attack Mickelson and LIV golf, are Chamblee and Lynch willing to write a column addressing the largest human rights abuse of our time?  That being China’s imprisoning, torture, and killing of thousands of Uyghurs and other Muslims – including women and children – in its Xinjiang province forced labor camps.”

• “Because they happen to be paid by NBC Sports owned Golf Channel, does that make them – as Lynch smeared Mickelson – “shameless pawns for murderers?”

9. Charlie Woods dominates junior event

Mike Hall for Golf Monthly…”Woods didn’t just win last week’s Major Championship at Village Golf Course in Florida, he cruised to the title by an incredible eight shots over its 36 holes. Woods’ opening round 72 included four birdies and the following day, he performed even better, with five birdies in his round of 71 to finish far ahead of closest competitor Noah Manly.”

• “One of the most eye-catching aspects of Woods’ performance, which was watched by Tiger, was his score over the par-5s. Tiger has previously admitted that his son can now outdrive him, and it looks as though he put that big-hitting ability to good use as, over the two rounds, Charlie finished five-under in the eight par-5s he played, with a bogey on his 36th and final hole the only blemish.”