Block party rolls on after hole in one caps lifechanging week at US PGA
The record books will show Michael Block received $288,333 for his exploits at the 105th US PGA Championship. In reality, the impact of Oak Hill on this 46-year-old club professional from California promises to be life-changing. Brooks Koepka lifted the Wanamaker Trophy but Block stole hearts and minds. Heroes can wear slacks and a polo shirt.
By Monday morning Block was booked to appear on US chat shows, had leapt around 3,000 places on the world rankings and received invitations to two PGA Tour competitions. He will tee up this week at the Charles Schwab Classic rather than give lessons and fold polo shirts at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club. Block’s tie for 15th was the best by a club professional in the US PGA since 1986. “Mind-boggling,” was his own description of what transpired in Rochester.
At the start of tournament week,
Block visited a pub close to Oak Hill without a soul recognising him. By the time the final leaderboard was posted he had finished above Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas and Patrick Reed. The highest round of Block’s tournament was 71.
This was about far more than simply performance, though. During the final round, spent in the company of Rory McIlroy, Oak Hill reverberated to chants about the “Block party”. This hitherto unknown golfer had achieved cult status, boosted by delivery of the major’s only hole-in-one, at the 15th and with McIlroy among the delighted onlookers. “The atmosphere playing with Michael was unbelievable,” McIlroy said. Golf has its Roy of the Rovers story. Those who sneer at the PGA of America opening up its major to club players have been given food for thought.
“The week has been a dream,” Block said. “I didn’t know it was going to happen but I knew if I just played my darned game, that I could do this. I always knew it.
“Obviously I love my family and my job and everything, but golf is my life. I live it, breathe it. I made sure of one thing in my life, that I was going to drive to a golf course every day, whether it was as a caddie or as an on-site service kid or an assistant pro or a head pro or general manager, I was going to be at a golf course. I came to the golf course at Oak Hill and played in the PGA Championship.”
It is difficult to quantify what all of this means for Block, but he will be handsomely rewarded. New clothing, sponsorship and equipment deals are surely inevitable. Block is already exempt for next year’s US PGA Championship at Valhalla. The PGA Tour has latched onto his new-found celebrity status, issuing him with invites, including for the Canadian Open. One good week on the PGA Tour would open up all sorts of playing opportunities at golf’s elite level.
“I’m just a club professional, right?” Block said. “I work, I have fun. I have a couple of boys that I love to play golf with. I have a great wife, I have