As if Michael Block’s fairytale week couldn’t get any more fairytale-like, the PGA Professional delivered two all-time PGA Championship moments on Sunday. The 46-year-old played alongside world No. 3 Rory McIlroy in the final round at Oak Hill Country Club, sinking his tee shot on the par-3 15 for a hole-in-one.
Block’s first hole-in-one of his career gave him a memorable result that ultimately saw him finish in the top 15 on the leaderboard, earning him a spot in the field for the 2024 PGA Championship in Valhalla. (Block also received special permission for next week’s Charles Schwab Challenge.)
“I’ve never made a hole-in-one in a tournament in my entire life,” Block told CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis. “Reaching hole 15 back then with the crowd and everyone present and the support of the Rochester fans was probably the most surreal moment I will ever experience in my life. And I definitely enjoyed it.”
Arriving on the second hole of the championship and his fourth round, the Southern California club pro gave the die-hard Rochester fans even more of a chance to let off steam. It couldn’t have come at a better time for Block, absorbing every moment while vying for that future release.
Block’s ace was the only hole-in-one at the 2023 PGA Championship this week. In fact, it’s the only event to have occurred at the event since 2020.
“That didn’t go in, did it?!” Block asked McIlroy and his caddy in disbelief at the same time. “No. No. No way. No way. Rory, did it go in?!”
Yes, it definitely has, Michael.
“Couldn’t really see it. I knew it was on the needle but had no idea it went in,” Block recalled. “… Rory comes over and hugs me. I’m like, ‘Why is Rory hugging me because I’ve gotten closer?’ It’s kinda weird, but I thought it was cool. So I go down about 20 to 30 feet and I look back at him and I’m like, “Did that go in the hole?” … And the next thing I know, it was.”
Block’s hole-in-one, a 7-iron from 151 yards, is the first by a club pro in the PGA Championship since George Bowman in 1996. More importantly, he got the block back to even par and into the top 15 brought.
As Block left the green after retrieving his ball from the broken cup, he turned to his caddy and simply yelled, “Are you kidding me?!”
The ace might have been the championship blow, but the moment of the week came three holes later on the 18th green.
After a bogey on the 16th hole, Block had to pace the 72nd hole to make par to stay in the top 15. Unfortunately, his approach ended up way down the gallery, which presented an unlikely scenario for him to achieve his goal.
But the magic continued for Block, who caught a nice pitch and made an all-world par save to 1 over in a three-way tie for 15th place in the PGA Championship.
With that, Block has earned his way to Valhalla. Talk about a happy life.