(another) block party
Michael Block just keeps winning, grabs one more PGA Tour exemption
It’s getting kind of absurd at this point, but Michael Block has grabbed yet another trophy. It’s his second "major" win of the season (Southern California PGA section division) and it comes with another opportunity to show Rory McIlroy and his fellow PGA Tour pros who can hit it farther off the tee.
This go-around, Block took home the 2023 Southern California PGA Match Play Championship on Tuesday, and with that victory, the 46-year-old earned a spot in the PGA Tour's World Wide Technology Championship set for November in Cabo San Lucas. It took 19 holes, but No. 2 seed Block took down No. 16 Vinnie Poncino in the championship match at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles. It came after Block also needed extra holes to defeat Kenny Pigman in the morning semifinal.
Block, a teaching professional at Arroyo Trabuco Country Club who became nationally known for a sterling performance at the PGA Championship in May, took a few seconds to speak on the victory and what comes next: “I'm very lucky to come out with the trophy and a spot in Cabo for the World Wide Technology event on the PGA Tour. Super excited about that to get to Cabo. I love Cabo, so that should go hand-in-hand.”
Yes, in case you’re having deja vu, it was only a week ago when Block won another prominent local evnet, the SCPGA Professional Championship, shooting a final-round 66 at Sherwood Country Club. That victory came with a sponsor's exemption into the PGA Tour's American Express event in January 2024. Block also took home the Southern California PGA Player of the Year award. He even won at DJ Khaled’s We the Best Foundation Golf Classic, because of course, he did. Save some wins for the rest of us, man.
Block played in five PGA Tour events in 2023, missing the cut in four but shining bright when it really mattered. The 47-year-old finished T-15 at Oak Hill Country Club during the PGA, becoming an overnight star in golf circles.
It looks like Block will have plenty of chances to get a PGA Tour victory next season. Who knows? Everything’s coming up Block. Why not?