Michael Block Sets Early Pace In PGA Championship Qualifier

Two years after making headlines for his T15 finish in the PGA Championship, club pro Michael Block is once again eyeing the chance to earn his place in the second Major of the year.

Block, who is the head professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in his native California, is taking part in the PGA Professional Championship.

The event, which is open to PGA of America club professionals, offers 20 places in the field for next month’s Quail Hollow Major, and the 48-year-old got off to a flying start with a seven-under first round of 64 at PGA Golf Club in Florida, including eight birdies and just one bogey.

In total, 312 PGA of America professionals are competing in the event, and Block headed back to the clubhouse top of the leaderboard after his opening round, with a one-shot advantage over Jesse Meuller, Tommi Avant and Peter Ballo. That also puts him in prime position for exemptions into six PGA Tour events over the next 12 months, which is handed to the winner.

However, it will surely be the chance to reach the PGA Championship again that Block is really aiming for. Two years ago, he created a sensation at the Oak Hill Country Club event. His brilliant performance saw him finish one over for the tournament, and ahead of established stars including Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm.

Not only that, but he was paired with Rory McIlroy in the final round, and stole his thunder with a slam dunk hole-in-one at the par-3 15^th.

Block’s performance, which secured him low PGA Professional honors, also guaranteed him a place in the 2024 edition, although on that occasion he missed the cut. If Block does qualify for this year’s tournament, it will be his fourth successive appearance in the Major and his seventh in total.

He will surely be confident of achieving that given the start he made at the PGA Professional Championship. The tournament, which features 72 holes of strokeplay, finishes on April 30^th.