When the Australian Open tees off on Thursday, there’ll be plenty of eyes on an American cult hero – but not everyone will be cheering him on.
Michael Block, a 47-year-old club pro out of California, shot to fame at the PGA Championship when he struck a slam-dunk hole-in-one in the final round while playing alongside no less than Rory McIlroy.
For a club professional, a veritable no-namer among that star-studded field, it was the moment of a lifetime.
“To say least, I’m living a dream,’’ Block said during the round – where in true Cinderella fashion, he had the phrase “Why not?” stamped on every ball.
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His tied-15th finish (the best for a club pro in 35 years) pocketed Block $438,000 AUD ($US288k) and earned him invitations to a number of big-name tournaments like the Australian Open – not to mention experiences like playing golf with Red Bull F1 drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in Qatar.
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Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said: “Like all golf fans, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Michael’s efforts at Oak Hill and we feel he is the perfect fit of the Australian Open as we continue to showcase our world first dual gender format.”
But since that PGA Championship six months ago, Block hasn’t given a single lesson – nor have his performances on the golf course been all that impressive.
He missed the cut at the Charles Schwab just a week after the PGA Championship, and has battled ever since – finishing in a tie for dead last at the World Wide Technology Championship in his most recent outing earlier this month.
And his inclusion in this week’s Open hasn’t been too well received.
Aussie pro Scott Hend was one of the vocal critics of Block’s invite down under.
“Well done to Michael and his agent for getting whatever they did for this to happen,” Hend tweeted in October after Block’s place in the tournament was announced.
“This is just showing and confirming where a once respected tournament is heading … poor leadership, at the very least.”
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Block acknowledges that his fame has come with plenty of detractors.
He told Australian media on Monday that since the PGA Championship he’s felt “more pressure than I’ve had in the first 46 years of my life.”
“The interview thing, I’ve gotten used to that. But I haven’t gotten used to the pressure of the golf world watching, and seeing how I’m doing,” Block said.
“I’ve got a lot of fans and I’ve got some people who don’t wish me the best!
“It is what it is. I’m trying to learn that. I’m trying to learn how to not allow that to get in my head as I’m out playing.”
But he says it was an “absolute no-brainer” to play the Australian Open, a tournament he says he’s watched his whole life but “never ever” expected to play.
“In the last six months I’ve been to Europe, Qatar, now Australia. I’m very lucky,” he said.
“I’m a huge fan of golf, I love playing golf with the best players in the world. And here we are and I’m glad to be here at the Australian Open.
“I’m very fortunate and I’m going to do my best,” Block added.
And even if his form suggests he will struggle to make the cut at the Open, he’s determined to enjoy his first trip to Australia.
“I need to see some roos, for sure. I had a beer or two at the Opera House yesterday, there was a rainbow of the Harbour Bridge, it was a very special moment.
“And I’m staying downtown which is cool.
“And I need to have a sausage roll or something like that,” Block said.
At least for now, you can’t deny that Block has turned his 15 seconds of fame into the opportunity of a lifetime.
“I’m not saying ‘no’ to anything. I’m having fun with it and going everywhere. If they want me in Qatar for 24 hours [to shoot a video with Red Bull’s F1 drivers], I’m going.
“I was on the plane longer getting there than I was on the ground. But I got to hang out with Max Verstappen and Checo [Perez], and play golf with them, the three of us.
“I’ll travel the world to do that,” Block says.