The Michael Block Story: The golf pro who never wanted a life on tour

Michael Block will be in the field at the PGA Tour’s Charles Schwab Challenge this weekend. It will be his second high-profile tournament in a row, following his appearance in the 2024 PGA Championship. His “golf Cinderella” story has resurfaced as a reminder that the beauty of golf lies in the fact that even the humblest player can have his minute (or tournament) of glory.

Unlike most immensely talented golfers, Michael Block didn’t grow up dreaming of a life on tour. His goals were much more humble, revolving around a plan that he devised very early in his life.

“I learned very quickly in my life at a very young age, thank goodness,” Michael Block said in a recent interview to CBS Golf, “that I didn’t want to have to make six-footers to pay for my bills and raise a family. It didn’t take long, thank God, right? I didn’t spend 15 wasted years.”

His love for golf was evident from a young age. He recalled, “I remember when I first went to a golf course, I saw the head pro had a sign that said, ‘Golf Pro Parking Only’ in his own parking spot. And I thought immediately, ‘That’s my goal.’ I’m not sure why I wanted that as my goal, but it became my goal as a four- or five-year-old.”

This passion led Michael Block to pursue a career as a golf professional, which he achieved at the age of 20 when he took up the head pro job at Arroyo Trabuco, a position he held for the next 20 years.

But it was his performance at the 2023 PGA Championship that truly cemented his place in golf history. Despite missing the cut in his six previous Major appearances, Michael entered the tournament with a strong sense of optimism, determined to make the cut and be the low club professional. His goal was achieved, and he went on to play some of the best golf of his life, finishing in a tie for tenth place and just five shots off the leader.

The Unlikely Journey of Michael Block

In 1998, fresh out of college, Michael Block’s pursuit took him to The Lakes Country Club in Palm Desert, California. He finally achieved his life-long ambition by taking the head pro job at Arroyo Trabuco, where he has worked for the last 20 years. But the real surprise was yet to come.

Fast forward to the 2023 PGA Championship, Michael Block’s performance was one of the golf stories of the year, showing the importance of resilience. Arriving at Oak Hill, Block had missed the cut in his six previous Major appearances. That run extended back to the 2007 US Open at Oakmont, and there was little to indicate that this experience would be any different. Still, with a goal set at the start of the week, Michael entered with a strong sense of optimism.

He sayed, “It was a no-brainer for me. I’d never made the cut in my six Majors, I’d made it in tour starts but never in a Major. I’d never really even come that close in a Major, to be honest. I think four shots from a cut maybe, at best, at a PGA Championship. Never close in the US Open, maybe five or six shots. So my goal was to make the cut and be a low club professional.”

Michale “Blockie” Block not only achieved this target, but with consecutive level–par 70 rounds, he was poised in a tie for tenth spot and just five shots off the leader. A third 70 on Saturday, this time alongside 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose, set him on the path towards a moment that truly captured the incredulity of what was happening.

At the PGA Championship, Michael Block sported a cap emblazoned with the word ‘RAW’, which perfectly summarized his reaction to the huge news that awaited him after the third round. After learning that he would be playing with Rory McIlroy in the final round on a Major Championship Sunday, Michael could barely believe what was happening.

The third round brought an unexpected surprise. After learning that he would be playing with Rory McIlroy in the final round on a Major Championship Sunday, Michael could barely believe what was happening. “I was flabbergasted by it,” he admited. This set the stage for one of the most iconic 1st tee scenes in the tournament’s history, alongside a true great of the game in front of thousands of impassioned fans.

The final round was nothing short of miraculous for Michael. At two-over for the day and tournament, he arrived on the par-3 15th tee in need of a strong finish to secure his spot in next year’s championship. What happened next will undoubtedly go down in PGA Championship folklore as the Californian slam-dunked a 7-iron from around 150 yards to send the crowd into a frenzy. “I think there were four or five miracles that happened in the matter of an hour-and-a-half,” he says.

Michael Block’s journey to the top of the golf world is a testament to the power of perseverance and the unpredictable nature of the sport. His story, which unfolded at the 2023 PGA Championship, is a reminder that even the most unlikely of athletes can achieve greatness with the right mindset and a dash of good fortune. 

Stories like Michael Block’s showcase the endless potential of golf athletes and remind us that anyone in the golf world has the potential to make history. His journey from a humble golf pro to a star of the PGA Championship is a testament to the unpredictability and magic of the sport. It serves as an inspiration to aspiring golfers worldwide, proving that with resilience, determination, and a bit of luck, anything is possible.