My9Iron · Professional Golf & Your Golf Tour
Michael Block Bio
How “Blockie” built an elite club-professional career, became the star of the 2023 PGA Championship and joined Team Grant on Your Golf Tour.
Michael Block quick facts
The short version: Block is not an ordinary club golfer who caught one lucky week. Before Oak Hill made him famous, he had already won the national PGA Professional Championship, dominated Southern California section golf and represented the United States in the PGA Cup.
From college golf to one of America’s leading club professionals
Block spent his freshman season at Mississippi State before transferring home to the University of Missouri–St. Louis, where he competed during the 1996–97 season and won his first tournament as a Triton. He later moved to California and attended the San Diego Golf Academy.
After golf-industry school, Block began working as an assistant professional at The Lakes Country Club in Palm Desert. He served there from 1998 through 2004 before becoming head golf professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo.
A championship résumé before Oak Hill
- Won the 2014 PGA Professional Championship in his debut.
- Finished tied for second at the national championship in 2022 and 2023.
- Won consecutive national PGA Professional Player of the Year awards in 2022 and 2023.
- Became a five-time Southern California PGA Professional Champion, winning in 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2025.
- Collected ten Southern California PGA Player of the Year awards in 11 seasons through 2023.
- Represented the United States in the PGA Cup in 2015, 2022 and 2024, helping the Americans win the latter two matches.
- Won the 2001 California State Open.
The PGA Tour lists 2008 as Block’s turned-professional year, while he received PGA of America membership in 2012. Those are separate career milestones rather than conflicting dates.
The unforgettable 2023 PGA Championship
Block arrived at Oak Hill as one of the PGA of America club professionals in the field. He shot 70-70-70-71, finished at 1-over par and tied for 15th. He was the only club professional to make the cut.
His week grew more remarkable each day. Block played Saturday with major champion Justin Rose, then joined Rory McIlroy for Sunday’s final round. On the 151-yard par-3 15th hole, Block’s tee shot flew directly into the cup for a slam-dunk hole-in-one.
What the T15 meant: Block earned $288,333 and an automatic invitation to the 2024 PGA Championship. The performance introduced millions of golfers to “Blockie,” while revealing the competitive record he had built away from weekly PGA Tour television coverage.
Block has now played eight PGA Championships: 2014, 2016, 2018 and five consecutive editions from 2022 through 2026. His T10 at the 2026 PGA Professional Championship earned his place at Aronimink, where he opened with an even-par 70 before missing the cut after a second-round 75.
Turning 50 and beginning a PGA Tour Champions chapter
Block turned 50 on June 15, 2026. He entered senior golf as the 2026 Southern California PGA Senior Section Champion and soon demonstrated that his new competitive chapter was more than ceremonial.
| 2026 event | Result | Context |
|---|---|---|
| DICK’S Open | T9, 13-under | PGA Tour Champions debut |
| U.S. Senior Open | T31 | Rounds of 72-70-71-70 |
| Boeing Classic | T41 | Early Champions start |
| Rogers Charity Classic | T5, 13-under | First PGA Tour Champions top-five finish |
| The Ally Challenge | T3, 11-under | Career-best Champions finish; secured a Sanford International start |
Block finished T3 at the August 30 Ally Challenge, earning a start at the Sanford International. He said that Sanford appearance would place him on the official Charles Schwab Cup money list; the result did not make him fully exempt.
Michael Block on Your Golf Tour
Grant Horvat selected Block as Team Grant’s secret wildcard for YGT’s opening stop at Pursell Farms. Block entered at the turn, replacing Sam Heung Min, and partnered Chance Taylor in alternate shot.
| Team Grant pairing | Back-nine score |
|---|---|
| Chance Taylor and Michael Block | 33 (3-under) |
| Grant Horvat and Luke Kwon | 37 (1-over) |
Block and Taylor combined for Team Grant’s best back-nine score. Team Grant completed the qualifier at 15-under, one stroke behind Team Brad, and narrowly missed the five-match final.
During the competition, Block was shown encouraging his teammates and emphasizing confidence. After the elimination, YGT included audio of his frustrated reaction to traveling for only nine holes of competition. Horvat and YGT later apologized for leaving the private moment in the episode and emphasized Block’s leadership and positive influence. The episode’s editorial decision became controversial; the footage did not show Block confronting Horvat.
Why he mattered to Team Grant: Block brought tournament experience, energy and the team’s strongest alternate-shot score on the decisive back nine.
Michael Block’s family and golfing sons
Block and his wife, Val, have two sons, Dylan and Ethan. Both sons have competed in golf and have shared meaningful tournament moments with their father. Dylan caddied during the 2018 PGA Professional Championship, when Block qualified for the PGA Championship at Bellerive. Ethan caddied for him during the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink.
Michael, Dylan and Ethan have also appeared together in creator-golf matches, giving fans a look at the family connection beyond championship coverage.
Michael Block’s documented 2026 golf equipment
GolfWRX documented Block’s bag again on August 30, 2026. The predominantly TaylorMade setup retained the Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball putter, while the newer report identified a Qi4D Tour 3-wood and an all-MG5 wedge set. These are dated observations, not a claim about every current round.
- TaylorMade Qi4D driver, Qi4D Tour 3-wood and Qi4D 5-wood
- TaylorMade P-UDI 4-iron
- TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC irons, 5–9
- TaylorMade MG5 wedges at 46, 52, 56 and 60 degrees
- Odyssey White Hot 2-Ball putter
- Golf Pride MCC grips
No golf ball was identified in the photographed source, so one should not be inferred from his other equipment.
Michael Block videos
The complete story of his remarkable PGA Championship final round
Michael Block’s Oak Hill hole-in-one
Your Golf Tour at Pursell Farms
Team Grant and related YGT profiles
- Grant Horvat bio — Team captain and YGT co-founder.
- Luke Kwon bio — Team Grant teammate at Pursell Farms.
- Chance Taylor bio — Block’s alternate-shot partner.
- Sam Heung Min bio — Team Grant roster member.
- Your Golf Tour 2026 hub — Teams, schedule, players and results.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Michael Block?
Michael Block is a PGA of America club professional, national PGA Professional champion and head golf professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club. He became nationally known after finishing T15 at the 2023 PGA Championship.
How old is Michael Block?
Block was born June 15, 1976 and turned 50 in June 2026.
Did Michael Block make a hole-in-one at the PGA Championship?
Yes. He flew his tee shot directly into the cup from 151 yards on Oak Hill’s 15th hole during the final round of the 2023 PGA Championship.
Where did Michael Block finish in the 2023 PGA Championship?
He finished tied for 15th at 1-over par after rounds of 70, 70, 70 and 71.
Which YGT team did Michael Block join?
Block joined Grant Horvat’s Team Grant as the secret wildcard at Pursell Farms.
How did Michael Block and Chance Taylor score at YGT?
Block and Taylor combined for a 3-under 33 in alternate shot, Team Grant’s best back-nine pairing score.
Is Michael Block playing on PGA Tour Champions?
Block began receiving PGA Tour Champions starts after turning 50 in June 2026. He finished T9 in his debut, T5 at the Rogers Charity Classic and T3 at the Ally Challenge, which secured a Sanford International start. Those results did not make him fully exempt.