{"id":1565582,"date":"2023-05-21T11:03:43","date_gmt":"2023-05-21T15:03:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1565582"},"modified":"2023-05-21T11:03:44","modified_gmt":"2023-05-21T15:03:44","slug":"who-is-michael-block-pga-pro-life-changing-payday-pga-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/who-is-michael-block-pga-pro-life-changing-payday-pga-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Is Michael Block, the PGA Pro in Line for a Life-Changing Payday at the PGA Championship?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It's Sunday at the 2023 PGA<\/a> Championship, and the top of the leaderboard is littered with familiar names. Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka<\/a> leads by one at 6 under par, while Corey Conners and Viktor Hovland (-5) are hot on his tail searching for their first major. Major winners Bryson DeChambeau (-3), Justin Rose (-2), Scottie Scheffler (-2), and Rory McIlroy (-1) are also in the hunt with one round to play at Oak Hill Country Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there's 46-year-old Michael Block at even par, and if you've never heard that name before, you're not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Block isn't a PGA Tour player, nor has he ever been. So, who the heck is this guy stealing the show at the PGA Championship?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is Michael Block? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Michael
Michael Block reacts after his shot from the 15th tee during the third round of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club | Kevin C. Cox\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Even if you're a die-hard golf fan, this is likely the first time you're learning about Michael Block. The 46-year-old golfer is the head professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, Calif. He charges $125 for a 45-minute lesson and $500 for a nine-hole session, but those prices might be going up after this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Block qualified for the 2023 PGA Championship<\/a> by finishing T2 in the 2023 PGA Professional Championship. It's just his 26th start on the PGA Tour dating back to 2007. In the previous 25, he made the cut only four times and never finished better than T69. Heading into the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, Block had missed 14 straight cuts on the PGA Tour dating back to 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His goal for the week was simply to make the cut and finish as the top club pro in the field. Those expectations have shifted a bit after three rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Block easily made the cut with back-to-back rounds of even-par 70 on Thursday and Friday, while none of the other 19 club pros made the weekend. Then, he kept the magic rolling with another 70 during a rain-soaked third round that frustrated most of the best players in the world. The Cinderella story will enter Sunday's final round at even par and just six strokes back of the lead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And his playing partner? Oh, just Rory McIlroy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Block is in life for a life-changing payday at the PGA Championship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n

Michael Block doesn\u2019t wanna know the $$$ he could make tomorrow. He\u2019s trying to keep his head down as long as possible.

\u201cI didn't even look at Rosey's face for the first 3 holes because I'm a big fan of Rosey's. Watched him my whole life.\u201d

What a story.pic.twitter.com\/c85Nvx01jA<\/a><\/p>— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) May 21, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>