Michael Block (golfer)

Michael Block (born June 15, 1976) is an American professional golfer. Having spent most of his career working as a club professional in Southern California, he received attention after making the cut and finishing in the top 15 at the 2023 PGA Championship at the age of 46. After making the only hole in one of the tournament during his final round, Block finished in a tie for 15th place, which was one of the highest finishes for a club pro in decades, earning him an automatic invitation to the following year's competition.

Biography

Block was born on June 15, 1976, in Reno, Nevada, growing up first in Davenport, Iowa, and then the St. Louis area of Missouri. During his adolescence, he played golf in Bellerive at the Bellerive Country Club from his home, See left column on page 6. before graduating from Parkway Central High School in Chesterfield, Missouri, in 1994. He attended Mississippi State University and the University of Missouri–St. Louis, playing college golf at both, before receiving a degree in golf course management from the San Diego Golf Academy.

Block was the assistant club professional at The Lakes Country Club in Palm Desert, California, from 1998 until 2004, before becoming head club professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California, where he charged $150 per hour for lessons. He competed in the 2007 PGA Tour Q-School, but did not pass the second stage. Prior to the 2023 PGA Championship, Block played in 25 PGA Tour events, making the cut in four of them, while winning the Southern California PGA Player of the Year award nine out of ten years from 2012 to 2022. Block's career includes wins at the 2001 California State Open, three Southern California PGA Championships (2017, 2018, 2022), and the 2014 PGA Professional National Championship. He also played in the 2015 and 2022 PGA Cups for the USA team, winning the latter.

He received wider attention after making the cut at the 2023 PGA Championship, the only club professional to do so; during the second round of the tournament, Block recorded birdies at three of his first five holes to move into joint-second place, before dropping three shots in two holes and finishing the day at even par. Another even-par 70 on the third round, for which he was paired with Justin Rose, saw Block move into a tie for eighth place after 54 holes. In his final round, playing alongside Rory McIlroy, Block scored a hole in one at the 15th hole on his way to a +1 final score; this score tied him for 15th place, earned him $288,000 in prize money (his previous top check was $75,000 for winning the 2014 PGA Professional Championship), and won him an automatic invitation to the 2024 PGA Championship. He was also given a sponsor's exemption for the following week's Charles Schwab Challenge, where he finished last. The RBC Canadian Open also offered Block an exemption. Block did not qualify for the U.S. Open in 2023 after failing to make the by two strokes at the Canadian Open.

Amateur wins

*1996 Southern Indiana Invitational, Owensboro Intercollegiate

Professional wins (5)

*2001 California State Open
*2014 PGA Professional National Championship
*2017 Southern California PGA Championship
*2018 Southern California PGA Championship
*2022 Southern California PGA Championship

Results in major championships

"T" = Tied

CUT = missed the halfway cut

''Note: Block has only played in the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open.''

U.S. national team appearances

*PGA Cup: 2015, 2022 (winners)

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Block, Michael
American male golfers
American golf instructors
Mississippi State Bulldogs men's golfers
UMSL Tritons men's golfers
Golfers from Missouri
Golfers from California
Sportspeople from St. Louis
Sportspeople from Mission Viejo, California
1976 births
Living people