ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It’s been a magical week for Michael Block, the California club pro who entered the final day of the 105th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in a tie for eighth place.
Block was stunned when he found out he’d be paired with Rory McIlroy on Sunday. No golf club pro has ever placed higher than 11th in a PGA tournament.
During the second round, Block, the 46-year-old head professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California, birdied his first hole of the day to move into a tie for second place behind leader Bryson DeChambeau. He then birded his third and fifth hole.
He found himself in the company of such notables as Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Scottie Scheffler early in the second round of the PGA Championship and ended up shooting a second consecutive round of even-par 70 to ensure that he’d make the 36-hole cut. When his day was complete, he was tied for 13th place.
By Sunday he’d become a cult favorite of sorts, drawing crowds and cheers prior to this round.
Dreams can come true, kids. @PGAChampionship #michaelblock #OakHillCountryClub pic.twitter.com/Qf5MKdVSx8
— Tim Schmitt (@TMSGolfweek) May 21, 2023
One of the endearing features of this major is that several spots in the field are reserved for club pros like Block — and occasionally they make some noise, but rarely like Block has. He has been named the Southern California PGA Player of the Year in nine of the last 10 years (2013-2022, with the exception being 2017). He’s also a past California State Open champion.
The last PGA Professional to finish among the top 40 for the entire championship was Steve Schneiter, who tied for 40th in 2005 at Baltusrol.
Here’s a look at Block’s magical run in photos.