Michael Block may be headed home early after another missed PGA Tour cut, but he also sneakily posted the lowest round of his improbable three-tournament run the past four weeks.
After opening with a 77 at the RBC Canadian Open, Block rebounded with a three-under 69 Friday, better than any rounds during his magical T15 finish at the PGA Championship three weeks ago.
But that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that Block can take it deep even among the world’s best. Not only is he the 2022 PGA Professional Player of the Year and a 10-time Southern California PGA Player of the Year, but this week is his 27th PGA Tour start now, including seven majors. Earlier this year, he opened The American Express with a 65.
The 46-year-old has a good reason why he’s able to hang with the world’s best: He does it regularly.
Block told Subpar co-hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz on this week’s episode how he met Patrick Cantlay, a fellow Southern Californian, at the famed pro-scratch event at the Plantation Golf Club in Indio.
“We had a game out there and I think he beat me five ways on the front,” Block said of the eight-time PGA Tour winner. “And I got him five ways on the back that first round. And after that, he’s like, ‘OK, this club pro can hang a little bit.”
Block said that first impression led to a bunch more invitations, but not too many wins for head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club.
“I started getting the phone calls, you know, coming out the games and stuff like that,” Block said. “I’ve been lucky enough to get him here and there every once in a while, but he’s definitely got me in a heck of a lot more than I’ve gotten him and it isn’t even close. He’s a stud golfer and the guy doesn’t miss, you know. But he’s a great person for me to go play against. And so when I’m playing against and I know he’s the No. 4 guy in the world, it gives me a lot more confidence.”
For more from Block, including a deep dive on his PGA Championship experience, check out his full Subpar episode below.
