Michael Block, the 49-year-old head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California, has been a lightning rod in the golf world since his star turn at the 2023 PGA Championship. Some love his brash comments and high-profile media presence, while others are put off by them. But Block just keeps doing his thing, playing his way into the PGA Championship field five years in a row, most recently at Aronimink with a stellar performance at the 2026 PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes. Now, he's turning 50 a month after the PGA Championship, and it's time to reflect on his path to quasi-stardom.
Block's self-image interests me because he's always been a little bit on the outside looking in. Do you finally feel like you belong? He says, 'Do I belong with the Scottie Schefflers and the Rory McIlroys of the world? Obviously not. But if you look at 2023, the stars aligned, and it was the most unbelievable week of my life. For a few days, I was almost able to hang with them. I don't think that will ever happen again, but the great thing about golf is that I put myself in a position where it could happen again, and nobody gave that to me. I earned it.'
Block's mindset when he shows up for the club pro championship is very different from when he turns up for the PGA Championship. At club pro events, he feels like the alpha dog and has success, but he didn't carry that same confidence to TOUR events and wouldn't play good golf. When he gets to Aronimink, he knows he's the shortest hitter in the field and is okay with that. His goal is to hit the most fairways and have the fewest putts and compete doing it his way.
Block's journey to the top has been a rollercoaster. After the 2023 PGA Championship, he felt like if he could get longer, he could play like that every week, and that was the worst thing that ever happened to him. He lost sight of who he was and went back to the beater cut, just getting in the fairway and being happy with it. His goal at the PGA Championship is to make the cut, be the low club pro, and stand on the 18th green on Sunday with the champion.
Block's success at the PGA Championship is not just about winning; it's about having fun and enjoying the experience. He has tons of family and friends coming with him, and his son, Ethan, is on the bag once again. He doesn't want to lose his job at Arroyo and loves what he does. He's looking forward to giving up tournament golf and getting back on the range to help people with their golf swings.
Block's journey to the top has been a rollercoaster, and he's learned a lot along the way. He's aware that 'Blockie' is a surprisingly controversial figure in the golf world, and he's tired of himself and his voice. He's stopped looking at the comments under any post about him because it hurt him, and he's just a normal guy who loves his dog, wife, and kids and tries to treat people well.
