'Why not?' Club pro Michael Block makes PGA cut, wants more

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Weekend warriors and everyday duffers watching the PGA Championship from home could relate to Michael Block's tee shot Friday at the par-3 fifth hole, his 14th of the day.

The PGA club professional used his 8-iron the same just like he did all week, but instead of a baby draw, this time it was a shank. His ball spat out to the right, hit a tree branch, "almost killed somebody" in Block's words and landed in the rough.

Playing partner Taylor Pendrith of Canada said Block took it on the chin.

"He was walking off the tee laughing and said he has a full wedge in," Pendrith said.

Block took a double bogey on the hole but didn't unravel, finishing his round at Oak Hill Country Club with four straight pars. That was enough for a second straight round of even-par 70, guaranteeing the head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, Calif., will play the weekend at the second major of the season.

Twenty PGA professionals qualify for the PGA Championship every year. After Block qualified for the fifth time, his goal coming in was to make his first cut. He did more than that Friday, going as low as 3 under -- one shot off the lead.

"I've been gaining that confidence from (recent) finishes in those rounds where I'm like, why not?" Block said. "Why not come here and compete? Why not here, at Oak Hill, make the cut?"

Block's use of that phrase is deliberate: The words "Why not?" are printed on his golf balls. He used to question and second-guess himself over every shot, as many golfers do.

"I was coming close to winning a tournament (and said), ‘Why not win? Why not just clip this, spin it to the right 3 feet and make the putt?'" Block said. "I go, ‘Why not?' I started saying that, and so to do it, they started stamping my golf balls."

Some years go by where no club pros make the PGA Championship cut. Two players did in 2021, but none made it last year at Southern Hills. Now Block could make more exclusive history: Only one club pro, Jay Overton in 1988, has finished inside top 20 in the last 30 years. None has finished better than third.

Birdies at the par-4 10th, 12th and 14th holes kicked Block's second round into high gear and tied him at 3 under. Block insisted he didn't look at the leaderboard once, but by simple math he knew he was likely tied for second, one behind first-round leader Bryson DeChambeau, who would tee off in the afternoon.

Block bogeyed No. 17 and birdied No. 1 before following a bogey 6 at the fourth with his memorable double. A professional like him has had experience teaching pupils the physical aspect of fixing a swing, but he said there's a mental aspect of leaving a shank in the past.

"That's in the brain. You've got to erase it. You absolutely have to erase it and commit to the next shot 100 percent," Block said. "... A lot of people let it affect them, and my big thing is to spiral upwards, which is what I really try to do, but I used to all the time spiral downwards."

Block spiraled upwards by saving par at four straight par-4s to close the front nine. He landed in a greenside bunker at No. 9 but blasted out to 4 feet of the cup.

Block received the biggest cheer of the threesome when he finished his par. The St. Louis native had his share of family, friends and supporters following him around the course. Block stretched out his arms toward the gallery with a motion to pump them up.

"Really good player, a better person," Pendrith said. "He was awesome. We had a ton of fun, and good for him to finish up strong. Yeah, hopefully he has a good weekend."

Block was asked what the biggest "why not?" this weekend would be.

"To win," he said. "By far. As weird as it sounds, I'm going to compete. I promise you that."

--By Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media