Michael Block, a Southern California PGA professional, captured the golf world’s hearts at the PGA Championship last May. From there, the Block Party carried on for months.
Michael Block wins 2023 PGA Pro of the Year, as the Block Party continues
The Block Party isn’t over yet as Michael Block was honored by the PGA of America following his historic season.
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for We The Best Foundation
The Mission Viejo, Cali., resident traveled all over the world in 2023, playing golf, meeting celebrities and turning into a household name.
While the calendar might have turned to 2024, that doesn’t mean his party cannot continue.
On Wednesday, the PGA of America named him the 2023 PGA Professional of the Year for the second year in a row. He earned 1,352.50 points to capture the title.
“I was never in my life thinking ‘let’s try to do this twice,’” Block said in the PGA of America press release. “I had this as a goal in life to win it one time. I happened to play well in two important events, the national club pro and the PGA Championship. I’m lucky enough to get it two times in a row.”
Block started his storybook year with a T2 finish at the PGA Professional Championship at Twin Warriors and Santa Ana Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico.
He played his way onto the Corebridge Financial PGA Team and earned his 5th start at one of golf’s majors, the PGA Championship.
That week in Rochester, NY, golf fans were captivated by his charm. He went 70-70-70-71 to finish as the highest PGA professional in the field and a T15 finish. His demeanor and everyman relatability began to turn him into a folk hero.
But it was Block’s hole-in-one on the par-3, 151-yard 15th hole on Sunday turned him into a golf superhero.
He and Rory McIlroy were partners for two days, and the Northern Irishman was blown away with his unshakable confidence.
We all remember when Block said he would be the best player in the world if he had McIlroy’s length off the tee. The 4-time major winner didn’t let the pro’s words bother him, though.
After his success in Rochester and all the attention he received, including a congratulatory message from Michael Jordan, Block received an invitation to the Charles Schwab Challenge.
He and rap artist DJ Khaled would later pair up to win a charity golf tournament.
In September, the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club head professional won his back-to-back PGA section major. In September, he won the Southern California Match Play Championship and the Southern California PGA Section Championship.
Those two victories earned him the Southern California PGA Player of the Year Award for the 10th time in 11 years.
Block still wasn’t done though. He went down under and played in the Australian Open. The 47-year-old finished T27 after shooting 71-70-69-70, 280 to finish at 5-under.
This award won’t be the only time Block will be in the limelight in 2024. His finish at the 2023 PGA Championship means he will play in the PGA Championship at Valhalla in May.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For more golf coverage, be sure to follow us @_PlayingThrough on all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
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