In the most tumultuous period in the sport’s history, with rival tours throwing millions and billions behind players, tournaments and legal fees, with the acrimony of a seismic split threatening to tear the whole thing apart – Michael Block’s fairytale week at the PGA Championship was just what golf needed.
An antidote to the antitrust lawsuits between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, in direct opposition to players cashing in on Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed outfit, this one man reminded us all of what it’s really all about as we watched him living out his golfing dreams just for the love of it.
It was a refreshing break from millionaires arguing with millionaires about how good their respective golf tours are, from lavish LIV parties flashing their ginormous wealth ahead of new tournaments, from bots on social media lashing out from both sides.
No professional golfers, from both sides, who frankly should know better, taking to Twitter to air petty grievances or have sly digs at Tours they either made their name on, or Tours that have provided a different disruptive alternative to the norm.
Instead, we had a 46-year-old club professional, who dishes out advice in $150 lessons back home in California, producing a Cinderella story that warmed the heart of every golfing fan – and captured the imagination of even those not huge followers of the sport.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you grow the game.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
From not even knowing how much prize money he’d won to his first thought when being told he had an exemption for next year’s PGA Championship being delight that it freed up a space for another club pro to try and live their dreams – Block was authentic, likeable, heart-warming – and played some damn good golf to boot!
It was so nice to cover a good news story in golf, and really did take us away from the sniping and backbiting that’s become a tiresome and draining reality within the sport of late – and it hopefully points us towards a better future.
And so to remind us of this tremendous occasion, let’s go through the Michael Block highlight reel, and there’s plenty, from rounds with Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy, record-breaking achievements and of course that hole-in-one. What a ride!
Michael Block’s PGA Championship highlights
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The Slam Dunk Hole-in-One
As if making the cut at the PGA Championship and then playing in the final round with Rory McIlroy was enough, Michael Block sent Oak…
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