Michael Block had to take a minute in the bathroom on the back nine at Aronimink on Thursday afternoon.
While there wasn’t an actual mirror that he could look into, the 49-year-old club pro from Southern California made do.
“I said, ‘You got this.’ I go, ‘You’re actually pretty good, buddy,’” Block said. “I just kept going, I’m with DJ (Dustin Johnson), one of my idols, some guy I looked up to my whole life, and Rasmus (Hojgaard), 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.’”
That pep talk worked out. Block backed up a late double bogey with two birdies the rest of the way to finish the first round of the PGA Championship with an even-par 70. That had him just three shots off the lead by the time he hit the clubhouse.
Block, of course, rose to fame in the golf world after he made a legitimate run at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill. While he didn’t win that year — he finished T15 — the head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Southern California remained a fan favorite.
Block ended up beating both of his playing partners Thursday. Johnson and Højgaard each shot 2-over 72 in their opening rounds. Block beat several other big names in the golf world, too, including both Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau.
While Block has a long way to go to actually make a run at the Wanamaker Trophy, something no playing pro has ever pulled off, he’s playing free this week. That pep talk was just a reminder of that.
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“I have zero to lose,” Block said. “I’m about to be 50. I can see my wife and my kid up on the hill there right now, and my boss, they support me 100%. There’s zero losing this week.
“They don’t expect me to play well. They hope I play well, and they know I could play well, but I could get last place, and I’m still going to be loved and have a great job and everything else, and that’s perfectly fine with me. That really gives you a lot of confidence, to be honest.”
Block, Johnson and Hojgaard will run it back Friday, where the trio will attempt to make the cut into the weekend. But whatever happens, Block is keeping where he’s at in perspective.
“It’s really cool, it’s kind of fun to be honest,” Block said simply. “I’m proud of myself for just grinding it through and having fun with the boys.”
