“No Way on God’s Green Earth”: Soon-To-Be-50-years-old Confident About PGA Championship Return
Bildnummer: 11660442 Datum: 12.10.2012 Copyright: imago/Xinhua ANTALYA, Oct. 12, 2012 - Justin Rose of England plays a shot during his match at the final of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final at Antalya Golf Club in Antalya, Turkey, on Oct. 12, 2012. (Xinhua/Ma Yan) TURKEY-ANTALYA-WORLD GOLF FINAL PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN; Golf Herren x2x xmb 2012 quer o00 Symbol Silhouette Golfer Golfspieler Image number 11660442 date 12 10 2012 Copyright imago Xinhua Antalya OCT 12 2012 Justin Rose of England Plays A Shot during His Match AT The Final of The Turkish Airlines World Golf Final AT Antalya Golf Club in Antalya Turkey ON OCT 12 2012 Xinhua Ma Yan Turkey Antalya World Golf Final PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN Golf men x2x xmb 2012 horizontal o00 symbol Silhouette Golfers Golfer
Bildnummer: 11660442 Datum: 12.10.2012 Copyright: imago/Xinhua ANTALYA, Oct. 12, 2012 - Justin Rose of England plays a shot during his match at the final of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final at Antalya Golf Club in Antalya, Turkey, on Oct. 12, 2012. (Xinhua/Ma Yan) TURKEY-ANTALYA-WORLD GOLF FINAL PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN; Golf Herren x2x xmb 2012 quer o00 Symbol Silhouette Golfer Golfspieler Image number 11660442 date 12 10 2012 Copyright imago Xinhua Antalya OCT 12 2012 Justin Rose of England Plays A Shot during His Match AT The Final of The Turkish Airlines World Golf Final AT Antalya Golf Club in Antalya Turkey ON OCT 12 2012 Xinhua Ma Yan Turkey Antalya World Golf Final PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN Golf men x2x xmb 2012 horizontal o00 symbol Silhouette Golfers Golfer
The American professional golfer Michael Block may be turning 50 soon, but he is confident about competing in at least one more edition of the PGA Championship. Block recently opined that the 2026 PGA Championship certainly wouldn't be his last.
He was asked on Thursday whether the current edition of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club could be his last, and his answer left no room for interpretation.
"I have to be honest with you, there's no way on God's green earth this is my last one. No chance," Block told Golf Channel's Jason Sobel on May 15. "I will definitely qualify for one more, if not five more."
Block earned his spot in the tournament through hard work. He qualified by playing in the PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes last month. In very tough weather with 30 mph winds, he scored 78 and 69, finishing tied for 10th place. That was enough to earn him a place in his eighth PGA Championship.
On Thursday, he played in the same group as Dustin Johnson and Rasmus Hojgaard, two of the longest hitters in the tournament. On most tee shots, Block hit the ball more than 50 yards shorter than both of them.
He never tried to close the gap and later revealed his mindset, saying, "I said, 'Do not try to hang with them. We're just going to play our own game.'"
Four birdies, bogeys at 4 and 8, and a double at 12. He finished the round with an even-par 70. That was one shot better than Cameron Young and four shots better than Rory McIlroy. Going into Friday, Block was at one over par and still above the expected cut line.
Michael Block’s Positive Mindset Helps Him Shine at Every PGA Championship
Block first became famous in the golf world during the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club. Playing alongside Rory McIlroy in the final round, he made a hole-in-one on the 15th hole, then got up and down on 18 to finish 15th.
The performance opened doors. Deals with TaylorMade, Malbon Golf, Cisco, Charles Schwab, and Raising Cane's.
His son Ethan is on the bag this week. Block arrived Sunday and played nine holes each day through Monday, seeing Aronimink twice before the tournament began.
The mindset carried into Thursday's round, even on the holes that didn't go his way.
"Even on my bogeys today, I never hit a bad shot," Block said. "You can't lose confidence over a bad shot, that's a really, really important key that I try to teach not only myself, but my students as well."
Friday morning, in the first group out, Block shot one over on the front nine. At the time of writing, he sits one over for the tournament. Right where he planned to be.
So, where do you think he will finish this year's PGA Championship?
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Written by
Sneha Abraham
Edited by
Souvik Roy