Field Level Media
22 May 2023, 07:40 GMT+10
PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Michael Block, the club professional who made the cut at the PGA Championship and won over the hearts of the common man, added an exclamation point to his remarkable week at Oak Hill Country Club by dunking a hole-in-one at the par-3 15th hole.
The downhill hole was playing 151 yards on Sunday, and Block's tee shot landed directly in the hole without a bounce. His ball caused some damage to the side of the cup as it flew in.
Block couldn't believe it, though his playing partner -- none other than Rory McIlroy, four-time major winner from Northern Ireland -- was the first to congratulate him with a high-five and pats on the chest, the stuff of dreams for casual golfers.
Block, 46, earned a reputation as "The People's Champ" this week. Not only was the head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, Calif., the only club professional out of 20 to make the cut, he fired three straight rounds of even-par 70 in conditions that hindered some of the world's elite golfers.
Block also did "walk-and-talk" interviews during his rounds on Thursday with ESPN and Saturday with CBS, showcasing a winning attitude combined with a "Why not me?" mentality.
If Block finishes inside the top 15, he will be exempt into next year's PGA Championship, though that's not all that's at stake. A top-10 finish would qualify him for next week's Charles Schwab Challenge and next month's RBC Canadian Open. A top-four would get him into the 2024 Masters.
Block entered the day tied for eighth, six shots off the pace of leader Brooks Koepka. He had two bogeys and no birdies on his card when he stepped to the 15th.
--By Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Belfast Bulletin news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Belfast Bulletin.
More InformationLONDON, England: The BBC has reported that Jaguar Land Rover owner Tata Motors is planning to build a multi-billion pound ...
LONDON, England: As part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's measures to bring down annual net migration, which reached a record ...
LONDON, England: An elderly woman, Helen Holland, struck two weeks ago by a police motorcycle escorting Sophie, the Duchess of ...
Padraig Harrington carded a 4-under 68 on Saturday to maintain the lead after three rounds of the KitchenAid Senior PGA ...
Newly released documents detailed an ?ever-present? danger to the British monarchA trove of newly released FBI documents has detailed an ...
Six Northern Ireland companies have been awarded a total of Pound 600,000 to develop practical and environmentally friendly solutions for ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: Reuters has reported that US President Joe Biden's nominee for a federal judge position in Kansas, Jabari Wamble, ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: Jennifer Homendy, head of the US National Transportation Safety Board, has said the US will investigate recent near ...
MIAMI, Florida: Four Chinese citizens living in Florida have sued the state over a new law barring citizens of China ...
OSLO, Norway: Norwegian Defense Minister Bjoern Arild Gram has said that Norway would conduct training programs for Ukrainian pilots in ...
LOS ANGELES, California: Reuters has reported that California is seeking approval from the the Biden administration to require all new ...
LONDON, England: As part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's measures to bring down annual net migration, which reached a record ...