PGA Professional Michael Block has become the talk of the golf world after he finished T15 in last week’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
The 46-year-old earned $280,000 for the week and was also given a surprise invitation to the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club and The RBC Canadian Open the week before the U.S. Open.
Block even received a text message from a childhood hero, Michael Jordan.
“I mean, getting a text from Michael Jordan today, that’s – I’m a big Jordan guy my whole life,” he said at his pre-tournament press conference at Colonial.
“I was a little kid in Iowa saving 100 bucks for a pair of Jordans back in the day. Pretty darn cool, to say the least.
“It was something in the way that what he saw is why he loves the game of golf so much.”
Block is undoubtedly a Cinderella story, but that doesn’t mean he lacks serious talent. To finish T15 at such a grueling course in Oak Hill is a testament to how good reigning PGA of America Professional Player of the Year really is.
While on a podcast with Bob Menery, Block said he believes if he had Rory McIlroy’s distance off the tee, he’d be one of the best players in the world.
https://t.co/xBPEPFF3DC pic.twitter.com/wEXRR0ck71
— Bob Menery (@BobMenery) May 25, 2023
“He’s a lot longer than I am. That’s what it is. Oh my God. What I would shoot from where Rory hits it, would be stupid. I think I’d be one of the best players in the world. If I had that stupid length? All day. My iron game, wedge game, around the greens and my putting is world class.”
Block’s skill will once again be put to the test at the Charles Schwab Challenge this week. Colonial Country Club is a course that doesn’t require as much length as Oak Hill. It’s more of a plotter and shot makers course, so it should suit Block very well in theory.
He’s set to tee it up at 2:28 pm local time on Thursday alongside Min Woo Lee and Pierceson Coody.
