Michael Block, Rochester's new adopted son, visits pub before final PGA Championship round
Rochester loves Michael Block. And Michael Block loves Rochester back.
The club professional from California has become the darling of the 105th PGA Championship since making the cut at Oak Hill Country Club.
Underdog. Blue collar guy. Family man. He already had Rochester's heart.
Then he kicked back at Pittsford Pub for some beer and relaxation a night before he was paired with Rory McIlroy for the championship round. A man of the people still wearing his golf gear and lanyard while sitting tied for eighth place.
That makes him an adopted son.
A couple of hours earlier, Block smiled, acknowledged, pointed and waved at fans during his third round performance. He received a standing ovation on No. 18 on Saturday.
"I'm starting to feel like Josh Allen feels," Block said. "It's pretty cool...It's pretty cool to be Michael Block out here in Rochester."
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Block garnered the loudest ovation of the tournament when he teed of on the first tee Sunday afternoon.
Michael Block is T8 at the PGA Championship and paired with Rory McIlroy tomorrow.
He’s also at Pittsford Pub tonight near Oak Hill. #ManOfThePeople #TheBlockParty pic.twitter.com/bFoDneJt9I— John Nucci (@JNucci23) May 21, 2023
"I'm just playing golf and having fun," Block told CBS. "The Rochester folks have gravitated toward the club pro, which is really cool, and I really appreciate it. I had no idea when I was making that flight from Orange County to here that that would happen."
Block entered the final round six shots back and tied with McIlroy. Block, 46, strung together three straight rounds of even-par 70 and is the first club pro to rank inside the top 10 through 54 holes in 33 years.
He said the most he's ever made in a tournament is $75,000, at the Club Professional National Championship in 2014. If Block holds at eighth place he'd be in line for more than $500,000.
"The biggest ovation of the Championship so far."
Block and McIlroy are officially off to the races.#PGAChamp | #CorebridgexPGA pic.twitter.com/vrGrw2eZXG— PGA of America (@PGA) May 21, 2023
"Yeah, I'm not looking," Block said about peeking at the names barely ahead of him on the leaderboard.
"I'm absolutely blown away by this experience," Block said. "Everyone is so cool and the people are great. We go out to dinner, everyone is so awesome, and the fans have been amazing."
Block is enjoying every second of the moment. His fame hasn't lasted 15 minutes. It's been four days.
"Before you know it, you're 60 years old and retired and look back at the videos on this and remember that was the best week of my life, and more than likely this is probably going to be the best week of my life. So I'm going to sit back as much as I can with my friends and family at the house we rented and watch the videos tonight and see all my new followers on Instagram. It's been crazy, it's been awesome."
'I can compete against these guys': Michael Block-Rory McIlroy pairing will be must-see TV
Michael Block is the best story in golf this weekend, and this walk and talk was incredible.
Bravo CBS 👏pic.twitter.com/6ApVaJ7SNd— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) May 20, 2023
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Michael Block visits pub near Oak Hill before PGA Championship round