Block party continues after hole-in-one caps life-changing week at PGA of USA | US PGA

Michael Block has a suspicion that his life has been changed forever thanks to his sensational performance in US PGA Championship.

The club pro enjoyed a barely credible week in Oak Hill, making the cut at a major for the first time, playing with Justin Rose. in the third round and then hole-in-one on Sunday while playing four-time major winner Rory McIlroy. The 46-year-old’s display captured the imagination of spectators and his tie for 15th place clinched a spot at next year’s PGA of USA in Valhalla, followed shortly thereafter by wild cards for this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge. on the PGA Tour and the Canadian Open in June.

“This week has been absolutely a dream,” Block said. “I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I knew if I played my damn game, I could make it.

“I always knew. I had this gut feeling that it was going to happen. I always saw myself coming to the end with Tiger Woods. I was like, I’m going to do it, even if I’m 45 or whatever, I’m going to go to an event with Tiger.

“It turned out that I was at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill and I had Rory McIlroy in my group. I wasn’t going down the stretch to win but, at the same time, Sunday at a Major with the crowd here in Rochester was unreal.

“My life has changed, but my life has only changed for the better. I have my family. I have my friends. I have the people who really love me and care about me here. It’s an epic experience.”

Asked why he had proven so popular in Oak Hill, Block added: “I’m like the new John Daly, but I don’t have a mullet and I’m still not as big as him.

“I’m just a club pro, right? Job. I’m having fun. I have a couple of guys that I love to play golf with. I have a great wife. I have great friends. I live the normal life.

“I love being at home. I love sitting in my backyard. My best friend in the world is my dog. I can not wait to see it.

“But, yeah, it’s been a surreal experience and I had this weird feeling that life won’t be the same in the future, but only in a good way, which is great. I want to receive more phone calls. I want to get more exemptions. I want people to start calling me and saying, ‘We want you at our event because you make it better.’ That’s great for me.”