The Feel-Good Story of Michael Block Is Still That, Regardless of Post-PGA Play

The club pro was a folk hero at a major, then finished last at a regular Tour stop. But one shouldn't diminish the other, Bob Harig writes.

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Michael Block was the feel-good story of the PGA Championship, rebounding from a shank, making a hole in one, shooting three of the four rounds at par, and making two remarkable par saves at the 17th and 18th holes the final day to finish tied for 15th and earn his way back to the PGA next year. A club pro from California, Block, 46, had never previously made a cut at the PGA.

Within minutes of finishing the PGA, Block was inundated. Sponsor invites to the Charles Schwab Cup and RBC Canadian Open. Endorsement deals. And numerous media requests.

Block, who came across as an everyman good guy at the PGA, tried to take it all on and it was almost inevitable that it would become too much. His comments to one podcaster when asked what he could if he had Rory McIlroy’s length were somewhat cringeworthy. It’s a shame it caused so much pushback.

We should probably give him a pass and appreciate what he has done. The piling on because he finished last at Colonial was comical when you consider that is where he’d have been expected to finish without all the fanfare. He’s still a club pro competing against touring pros.

Block was the first to admit he expected none of what occurred at Oak Hill.

"I have no legs," he said after shooting a second-round 74. "I was scheduled to fly out at 10 a.m. last Saturday. So if that gives you any confidence on how much I had of making the cut at the PGA Championship. My whole family, everybody, everyone that even came out to watch me last weekend was scheduled to go out on Saturday.

“So to say the least, for me to finish 15th and make the cut and be there on Sunday and for whatever happened happened is insane because we were all going home Saturday morning, and that didn't happen obviously. Life changed a little bit since then, and I've enjoyed every single moment.

“Appreciation for everybody is beyond for me. I appreciate everybody that's shown their support. The people here, the pros here, the members here, the volunteers here, and the fans have been amazing.

“I thought I was just going to hit a chord with like 40-year-old—what do they call it? Dad bods. I thought I was going to hit a chord with the dad bods, which I think I did, but I think I hit a chord with all the other ones too, which is really, really cool. I met a lot of young people and old people and middle-aged people and whatever else."

That’s ultimately how it should probably be viewed. Block was a great story at the PGA Championship run by the PGA of America who govern club pros.

He will get another opportunity next week in Canada, and chances are he will have a difficult time making the cut there, too. And that’s O.K.