Michael Block’s ‘Miracle’ Buries PGA Tour & LIV Stars in Fans’ Eyes at Valhalla, Just a Week Before PGA Championship

It was the Sunday round at the 2023 PGA Championship. Michael Block hit his tee shot at the par-3, 15th hole at Oak Hill, which he lost sight of. Soon after, he heard the crowd roaring. Turning slowly to his playing partner, Rory McIlroy, he asked, “It didn’t go in, did it?” Well, go in, it did as he bunked the ball to score an ace on the hole, marking a pivotal moment in the golfer’s “fairytale story.”

Earlier that week, club professional Block had become an overnight cult hero when he did a walk-and-talk segment during ESPN’s coverage, marking the start of what would be later known as the ‘Block Party’. On Friday, he went ahead to make the cut for the tournament, keeping himself in the race for the Wanamaker trophy. It doesn’t end there; a well-played round on Saturday helped him pair up with the Northern Irishman on Sunday. His scintillating performance in the finale helped him finish T15, thereby qualifying for the 2024 edition as well.

Returning to 2024, it appears CBS and Paramount+ will not let the golfing world forget the story so easily. A tweet was shared by NUCLR GOLF on its X handle mentioning the broadcasting networks’s plan to air “One Moment in Time: Michael Block’s Miracle in May” on May 11, Saturday, at 2:00 PM, ET, in preparation for the week ahead.

It truly was a ‘classic underdog story’, not just because of his gameplay but also thanks to his attitude both on and off the course. His charm, along with the philosophy Michael Block dished out on teaching the sport back home at Mission Viejo’s Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, was especially effective in turning many heads.

Coming back to his on-course performance, apart from the hole-in-one he carded out on the final day, Michael Block’s gameplay was eye-catching, to say the least. With scores of 70-70-70-71 over the four rounds, including 13 birdies, one ace, and 10 bogeys, the club professional managed to outperform many top golfers, including the then-No. 1 Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, and others. The fans being excited for his return would be an understatement!

Netizens turn their eyes to Michael Block’s return to the PGA Championship

After scoring the ace on the par-3, 15th, he went ahead to card a bogey on the next hole. Now, if he was to qualify for the 2024 PGA Championship, the professional needed to place at T15. In order to do that, he needed to score a par for the next two holes. With the entire city of Rochester watching, he had a bad start on the 18th. However, a miraculous up-and-down saved him and helped him score par, allowing him to return to the major the following year at Valhalla. This is exactly what a fan meant when they responded, “When my god cousin’s stage 4 cancer miraculously went away, I thought that was a miracle,,,, until I learned what a true miracle is, Blockie getting into got Valhalla #ThnkUBlockie.” At the same time, another follower couldn’t believe he had qualified for the same, as they expressed in disbelief, “How did he qualify? Did he finish high enough last year?”

Later on, when asked about his playing partner’s game, he mentioned how being able to copy McIlroy’s game would help him rank much higher than he currently is. “Oh my God, what I would shoot from where Rory hits it would be stupid,” he said before adding, “I think I’d be one of the best players in the world. Hands down. If I had that stupid length? All day. My iron game, wedge game, around the greens and my putting is world-class.” A couple of followers responded in support while alluding to his comment, “If only he had rory’s length he’d win this thing,” and “Blockie winning it all.”

Many would be hoping for him to replicate the excitement Michael Block produced at the 2023 PGA Championship. Users on X had gone ahead to wish the same when they responded with comments such as “I hope he takes third and this thing never ends. It’s so bad I never want it to stop,” under the post. But the question is: Will he be able to do it while overshadowing the LIV Golf Pros, including Talor Gooch, defending champ Brooks Koepka,ands the other PGA Tour Pros, the former of whom dominated the headlines recently? We can only wait and watch!