‘I’m not coming for a sightseeing tour’: Golf’s newest cult hero to headline Open

A 47-year-old cult hero who captured the hearts of the golfing world and had a hole-in-one playing alongside Rory McIlroy is coming to the Australian Open.

Michael Block, a United States club professional who beat Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day in this year’s PGA Championship, has been confirmed as one of the headline acts for the national championship in Sydney next month.

The father-of-two went from a relative unknown to receiving text messages of congratulations from Michael Jordan after his fairytale 15th-placed finish at Oak Hill earlier this year.

It prompted Australian Open organisers to issue an invitation to Block for the event at The Australian and The Lakes, complementing homegrown stars Cameron Smith, Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee, who will play alongside Australia’s women’s major winners Minjee Lee and Hannah Green.

“I’m not coming to Australia for a sightseeing tour, I’m coming to thank everyone for the exemption and prove to everyone I can play in Australia and travel with the game,” Block said.

“The biggest thing is for me to have confidence, for me to have a good time and to talk to everyone. If I see a volunteer within waking distance, I’m going to thank them. That’s just my deal. I want to thank them, but I love to talk and it relaxes me.

PGA professional Michael Block is heading to the Australian Open.Credit: Getty

“And I don’t know how many Australians will know me by the end of the week. Hopefully, by Saturday and Sunday I’ve got all the Aussies on my side and they’re rooting for Block.”

Block’s rise to stardom was complete when he had an ace playing alongside McIlroy during his final round of the PGA Championship, the first time he’d made the cut at a major in his seventh attempt. His first appearance in a major was at the US Open at 2007.

But after years of teaching club members in California, he banked $460,000 in the year’s second major – his previous biggest cheque was $120,000 – and has been guaranteed at least three starts on the PGA Tour next year.

“I was kind of pre-built to be in this moment where everyone wants a picture, a photograph or autograph,” Block said. “I just enjoy it. It’s surreal how many people want an autograph of a club professional. It’s not going to last forever.

“You go all over the world, and you hear about tournaments, and you hear about places, I’ve not heard a single negative thing about Sydney. Everything sounds amazing and I’m just worried about not coming back [to the United States].

“I’m coming to Sydney to play absolutely as well as I can. I’m very realistic with my capabilities and what’s going to happen. I understand for me to compete and get 15th in the PGA, I had to have my A game. I had to play great, great golf to get 15th place. I didn’t win, even thought it felt like I won at some point.

“Cam and Adam can have their B and C game and still compete, I can’t do that. I’m a 47-year-old club professional in reality, and I’m sitting in my office most of the day. I’m not out working on my short game today. Does my game need to be A+? No, it doesn’t. But it needs to be firing.”

Block now jokes he has to close his office door to get some work done given his newfound popularity, but he’s promised to be the life of the party at the Australian Open.

But as for winning any long drive challenges during the Australian Open?

“I got to see [Min Woo Lee] hit that three iron 30 yards past my driver which was pretty depressing,” Block joked.

“The dream scenario for me in Sydney is if I get paired with Min, Adam Scott or Cam. I probably won’t be paired with them right off the bat, but I hope to work my way up to be with them on the weekend.”

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