By setting foot on his first tee on Thursday at Oak Hill Country Club, Michael Block must have been far, very far, from suspecting what awaited him at this weekend of the PGA Championship.
20 golfers from the PGA Golf Club Professional Championship were invited to Rochester for this major tournament, and Block was, unequivocally, the one who had the best week. We explain to you what happened.
Who is Michael Block?
Before falling into the concrete facts of the crazy adventure that was the 46-year-old golfer’s tournament, let’s step back a little.
For nearly 20 years now, Michael Block has been the club professional at Arroyo Trabuco, a course located in Mission Viejo, California. In addition to being the figurehead of this separate club about fifty minutes by car from Anaheim, Block is a private teacher, and even completed his specialized studies in golf course management, at the San Diego Golf Club. Academy.
Although he is not an illustrious stranger (he still has 5 professional victories in his career), very few people knew who this funny number promoting his golf club was:
Navigate to Weekend Rounds
Without drums or trumpets, the man who is only 4 candles from the half-century played good golf during his first two days. Two identical cards of 70, for par, tied for 10th in the standings.
All this, even despite a good old “shank”, on the 5th hole of a par 3, in the 2nd round:
I’m going to have nightmares about this shank from Michael Block. pic.twitter.com/ANa2atHcRD
— Alex Myers (@AlexMyers3) May 19, 2023
So, an unexpected top-10 after 36 holes of golf, Block was notably tied with ex-major champions like Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, but above all, ahead of names like those of Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth.
To get ahead of the champion of the last Masters by 6 strokes, it came to get the friendly golfer, direct in his feelings:
“I don’t know why that makes me emotional but it does.”
Michael Block was brought to tears when he was told he is out in front of Masters champion Jon Rahm.
On a trying Oak Hill course, he shot 70-70 and will make the cut @PGAChampionship. pic.twitter.com/FbDV0GHEVd
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 19, 2023
A passionate reaction, that says it all.
Then, in the 3rd round, the incarnated constancy. Bouncing off a bogey with a birdie, no problem. The rolls were falling, “life is good”:
What a day for @pga Coach Michael Block. @ROLEX | #ROLEX pic.twitter.com/tZ4kZaSXSE
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 20, 2023
Tied for 8th place, after 3 rounds, that must have been worth a little reward? A little Sunday of golf with Rory McIlroy, what do you think Michael?
“Oh boy, we’re gonna have some fun.”
Michael Block’s reaction to finding out he is playing with Rory tomorrow is priceless. 👌#PGAChamp | @scpga pic.twitter.com/Q15oNejdmU
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 21, 2023
An unforgettable Sunday
Michael Block was already the story of this Major Tournament, without even having hit a single small white ball on this last day.
The status of the people’s golfer, that’s where he got it:
“The biggest ovation of the Championship so far.”
Block and McIlroy are officially off to the races.#PGAChamp | #CorebridgexPGA pic.twitter.com/vrGrw2eZXG
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 21, 2023
But that’s not all. Already etched in his memory forever, Block’s weekend was to become even tastier:
MICHAEL. BLOCK. ACE. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/YitD2QLDB7
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 21, 2023
Straight into the hole. In Rory’s face. It is, honestly, one of the greatest moments in golf history. A “journeymen” who sneaks among the top-10, and strikes the blow of the tournament. It would make a good movie villain.
The worst is that the story continues.
In fact, a final top-15 finish earns an automatic invitation to the PGA Championship the following year, Block needed to save par to secure his ticket to Valhalla:
MAGIC. ✨ Michael Block officially claims his spot next year at Valhalla and caps off an insane week.#PGAChamp | #CorebridgexPGA pic.twitter.com/ZgxK4NGb9o
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 21, 2023
A top-15, a return to the PGA next year, the “low-professional” title, but of course, an exemption to participate in the next PGA tournament, the Charles Schwab Challenge:
Waiting for another Michael Block party? He’ll be teeing it up next week at the Charles Schwab Challenge. 😅pic.twitter.com/YRSs8btCqQ
— PGA of America (@PGA) May 21, 2023
Hats off to Michael Block, the people’s golfer. One thing is certain, the ticket is already purchased for the film at the cinema.
2023-05-22 15:48:43
#Michael #Block #Peoples #Golfer #Curve #Ball
