The PGA Championship’s wonderful week for Michael Block is now firmly entrenched in obscurity.
The former Southern California club pro made headlines when he finished the second round at Oak Hill one stroke off the lead. A club pro has never placed in the top 10 at the PGA Championship, so it was a feel-good Friday story when he finished T10. Conventional wisdom recommended fading to the middle of the pack. Even if that occurred, it would still be a bucket-list week and the last item on his extensive competitive resume to check.
However, Block did the unexpected and rocketed up the scoreboard on a rainy Saturday in western New York. Block, 46, shot a third-round 70 to tie for sixth going into the final round on Sunday.
At the end of his Oak Hill rainbow, there is a treasure trove of potential rewards. He would qualify for the RBC Canadian Open next month with a top-10 finish, and the Masters would be open to him with a top-four finish. A top-15 finish would guarantee a return to the PGA Championship under the current standards. Special Temporary Membership on the PGA TOUR would result from a two-way T3.
The idea almost seems ludicrous. And Block discovered the real kicker as he finished up his media tour on Saturday night in the dusk of Oak Hill. On Sunday at 2 p.m. Eastern, he will compete against Rory McIlroy in the fourth-to-last pairing. As a result, a megastar will compete alongside a club pro in his mid-40s.
Block affirmed that he already expected this sort of pairing along the line.
The pattern Block followed between the second and third rounds wouldn’t have suggested anything unusual. On Friday night, he picked up a friend at the airport and then went to Chick-fil-a. He watched TV at his rented home on Saturday morning while the rain lashed the Oak Hill property. Then he emphasized the suggestions he would give his Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club students “The turf will spin more and the ball will spin more if there is water on it. His 13 birdies for the week, second-most in the field, include four on Saturday.”
He has conquered obstacles thanks to his precision. Block made a mistaken shot for the second day in a row that had the potential to change the round. On Friday, he made a double bogey after shanking a mid-iron on the fifth par-3, his 14th of the day. The most recent double came from a tee shot that went too far left on the sixth par-4.
On the following hole, he missed left once more and was left with a 179-yard third shot from the left rough. However, he managed to get it onto the green and make an 18-footer to maintain par. From there, he was able to get his bearing.
“When it appeared that the situation had grown out of control, Block decided it wasn’t. I’m sitting here right now really awestruck by this event, but I’m also awestruck by how my game has actually come across. Although I’ve always had my game.” Block said.
Block is okay with the possibility that this is the best it will get. He understands his place in the game realistically. He has won the Southern California PGA Player of the Year nine times in the last ten years. Despite dominating club pro circuits back home, this is his 25th TOUR start, and he has yet to place better than 69th. Before this week, he had a major league cut record of 0 for 6. He is aware that he loses ground to most touring professionals.
Before you know it, you’ll be 60 years old, retired, and looking back on these recordings, you’ll recall that it was the best week of your life, and most likely, it will be the same for this week.
“Before you know it, you’ll be 60 years old, retired, and looking back on these recordings, you’ll recall that it was the best week of your life, and most likely, it will be the same for this week. As a result, I’m going to watch the videos tonight and get to know every one of my new Instagram followers while relaxing as much as I can with my friends and family in the property we rented. It’s been incredible and fantastic.” Block said.
It’s been incredibly fantastic, and my main concern right now is definitely just enjoying it all. Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, paid him a visit on the practice range on Saturday, and he began the round with Justin Rose, a playing partner he has always respected.
Block made the decision to avoid looking Rose in the eye until the round had fully begun.
“I actually just kind of glanced down, stared at his shoes for the first few holes because I figured it would get a little bit daunting, and then I continued from there.” he playfully said.
