PGA professional Michael Block is not your typical professional golfer. He is a 46-year-old club pro at a public course in California and hits less than a bucket of balls any given week. But when it comes to PGA Championship week, he steps up to the challenge and competes against the best golfers in the world.
Playing in his fifth PGA Championship as a PGA teaching professional, Block has managed to find his way into two U.S. Opens as well. He has made a total of 25 PGA tour starts, making five cuts. At this year’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y., he has shot three consecutive level-par 70s, putting him tied for eighth and paired with Rory McIlroy in the final round.
Despite his lack of experience and practice, Block exudes confidence when playing against the world’s best golfers. “I’m not afraid of them anymore, to be honest,” he said. “I understand how my game doesn’t quite get up to them, but I’m pretty darn close, and I can compete with them.”
His confidence should not be mistaken for cockiness, as Block is known for his friendly attitude on the course. During the second round, he gave Canadian Taylor Pendrith a low-five after he made a tough up-and-down for par, and in Thursday’s first round, Block made everything he looked at on the greens, rolling in more than 100-feet of putts.
But it wasn’t all sunshine for Block at the PGA Championship. During the second round, on the par-3 fifth hole, Block hit a hosel rocket which bounced off a tree and finished just 58 yards from where it started. To make matters worse, he went on to make a double bogey at the hole. However, he laughed it off and continued playing with a positive attitude.
As a teaching professional, Block is always willing to share his knowledge with others. He offers 45-minute lessons for a reasonable $125 at Arroyo Trabuco, a public course in Southern California. His advice for those struggling with the shanks is to hit the ground on the inside of the golf ball during practice swings, to feel that space and to get the hands in tight.
Despite his lack of training and experience, Michael Block has proven that he can stand up to the best golfers in the world. His friendly attitude and willingness to help others make him a fan favorite at the PGA Championship and beyond.
