Michael Block’s week at Aronimink is almost certainly over.
But the PGA pro, who has turned himself into a bit of a fan favorite in recent years, is not done competing just yet.
“I have to be honest with you. No chance [I’m done with the PGA Championship],” Block said, via SiriusXM PGA Tour’s Jason Sobel. “I will definitely qualify for one more, if not five more. … I definitely have some more in me, for sure. There’s no doubt about that.”
Block made a legitimate run at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill and ended up finishing T15 that season. No club pro has ever won the Wanamaker Trophy, but Block was among the closest to do so in recent memory.
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The 49-year-old is the head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Southern California and has remained a fan favorite ever since. He got off to a great start Thursday, too, and posted an even-par 70 at Aronimink — which had him just three shots off the lead after the opening round.
That, though, was something that Block credited in part to a pep talk he gave himself in a bathroom on the back nine.
“I said, ‘You got this.’ I go, ‘You’re actually pretty good, buddy,’” Block said. “I just kept going, I’m with [Dustin Johnson], one of my idols, some guy I looked up to my whole life, and Rasmus [Højgaard], who I know is an unbelievable player, he’s like No. 63 in the world. They both hit it 50 yards by me on every single shot, and I’m just going, ‘You got this, bud, you got this.’”
Block, however, struggled on Friday. He carded a 5-over 75, and ended the day with two bogeys and a double in his final five holes. That moved him outside of the projected cutline. While there was still an outside chance when he reached the clubhouse, Block knew the spot he was in.
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But he wasn’t going to let that ruin his day.
“I’m gonna go have lunch, have an IPA and watch the afternoon,” Block said.
Though his trip to the Philadelphia suburbs is getting cut short, Block will be back. He’s sure of it.
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