Party Like a Block Star

by Michael Abramowitz | PGA of America

Ft. Worth, Texas (May 23, 2023) – From charging $150 for an hour lesson to being offered at least $30,000 for the miracle 7-iron that he used to sink the ace heard round the world, Michael Block is walking on clouds.

And who can blame him?

“My initial response was $50,000 and I’d hand deliver it,” said Block. “Kind of kiddingly, but I guess not really anymore.

After all, the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y., took him from a highly respected PGA Professional, who regularly plays golf with Patrick Cantlay, Beau Hossler and Albert Pujols to a worldwide household name in the span of just four days.

Dare we say, “Why not?”

Just ask Michael Jordan, who tried to text Block on Tuesday morning. Problem is Block’s cell phone was so jammed with messages, he couldn’t find it for much of the day. Finally, the text appeared.

“I was a little kid in Iowa saving 100 bucks for a pair of Jordans back in the day,” said Block in disbelief. “Pretty darn cool, to say the least.”

Oh, to be like Mike….Block! Rare air, indeed.

Neighborhood Block

It’s amazing what some scintillating golf can do.

After all, he made us all laugh, cry, cheer and fall in love with the game as if we were all kids again. John Daly and Francis Ouimet take a backseat, Michael Block is now the Grand Marshal of our grand game.

Join the parade. Enjoy the ride. You will not believe your eyes. Not even the players on Tour.

“When I was watching him play golf, it’s enjoyment,” said 2020 PGA Champion Collin Morikawa. “Truly amazing what he’s done. The world loved it. I loved it.”

“It was incredible,” said Tom Hoge. “To do it on that kind of a test, I think really speaks to his game and the way that he played. That exposed every weakness he might have out there. He passed the test very well. What a great story.”

Max Homa has known Block since he grew up in Orange County, California, and he played with Block from time to time, first at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club where Block is PGA Head Professional. Homa knew Block was good but he was stunned by the T-15 finish at Oak Hill.

“I just think at its core is what golf’s about,” said Homa. “Kind of that any given Sunday thing. You go out there, you play your game, no one can play any defense, and you go show the world how great you are at golf.”

In Ft. Worth, Texas at the fabled Colonial Country Club–home of Hogan’s Alley–-Block is holding court with the media in a friendly neighborhood Block party. He has taken enough big time interview requests to hire an agent—Today Show, CBS Mornings, Good Morning America, Dan Patrick Show, to name but a few.

The media merry-go-round keeps spinning day and night.

The man of the people is taking in some Texas-sized, Lone Star State love and affection, and there’s virtually no end in sight to a scene that truly approaches the unreal.

A few fans chanted “Block Party! Block Party!” during Tuesday’s practice round, and a nice cheer came out as he approached the 18th green. Kids and adults alike asked him for photos and autographs.

Fans told him they were crying watching him on TV on Sunday. And weren’t we all?

The PGA at His Heart

When signing for a couple of kids, Block asked, “Are you going to be a PGA Professional?”

The young boy quickly answered, “I hope so!”

Until last Thursday, Block was golf’s Clark Kent. A mild-mannered PGA Professional on the Corebridge Financial PGA Team of 20 PGA Members with dreams of making the cut and earning Low Club Pro honors at the PGA Championship.

Come Sunday, he was golf’s Superman. In the process, he climbed over 3,000 spots in the Official World Golf Ranking from 3,580 to No. 577. Quite a leap in a single bound.

For Block, these are dreams so real. And for the rest of us, it’s just so surreal.

One day, this will eventually ease back down to Earth, but let’s enjoy the joy ride around the block as long as we possibly can.

“I don’t know what the future is going to hold whatsoever. I’m not trying to guess what’s going to happen. I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

It’s just too much fun…and “Why not?”