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Michael Block’s Incredible Up-And-Down To Make Next Year’s PGA Championship Has Everyone Talking

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Kevin C. Cox

Getty Image / Kevin C. Cox


PGA Club Professional Michael Block is the story of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. It’s one of the great Cinderella stories in recent golf memory.

The 46-year-old is the club pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California, where he spends his days doing things like running the pro shop, giving lessons, and helping to set up tournaments. Michael Block, like all club professionals with good handicaps, has the opportunity to qualify yearly to the PGA Championship, and he did this year.

He was a huge hit, too. Three straight rounds of even-par 70 had him in the top ten heading to Sunday and playing in the final group with superstar Rory McIlroy.

A finish in the top 15 would clinch Michael Block’s spot in next year’s PGA Championship at Valhalla Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky. But, after a slow start that saw him at +2 through 14 holes, that was in doubt.

Everything changed when Michael Block hit the shot of the tournament, and probably the year, on the par-3 15th hole when he dunked a hole-in-one on the fly.

Yeah, what a shot. But, he bogeyed the 16th hole before making par on 17, putting him right on the line of getting invited back for next year. On 18, he hooked his 2nd shot left on the short side of the flagstick, and was looking at an impossible up-and-down to finish in the top 15.

But, he miraculously got it done. He hit a picture perfect flop shot that landed on the fringe, the only way he could stop it close to the hole, and then knocked in the putt, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

What a great story this week. Congrats to Michael Block for an unforgettable performance.

Brooks Koepka won the tournament at -9. Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler tied for 2nd.