Michael Block Outscored Rory and Bryson, and the PGA Championship Is Shook

Seattle, you are NOT going to believe what went down today at the PGA Championship! Remember Michael Block, the legend from 2023? The teaching pro who took over Oak Hill? Well, he's back, baby, and he brought his "zero to lose" swagger right onto the Aronimink Golf Club. Dude dropped an even-par 70 in the first round and is sitting just three shots off the lead. This Block party is already getting WILD!

The Ultimate Underdog Vibe

Love this guy's mentality. Block said it himself, "I have zero to lose." He's almost 50, watching his wife and kid on the hill, knowing his boss has his back 100%. He literally said, "There's zero losing this week." How can you not root for that? His people don't expect him to play well, but they know he can, and even if he gets last, he's still loved, still has a great job. That kind of confidence? That's what we love to see, Emerald City! It’s what drives our 12s, right? This dude is channeling that energy.

This isn't his first rodeo. Three years ago, at Oak Hill, he wasn't just making the cut. He tied for 15th and capped it all off with a hole-in-one on Sunday. And how'd he even get here? He qualified through the PGA Professional Championship, out of Bandon Dunes in Oregon, one of just 20 pros to make the major field. This isn't luck, folks, this is pure grit.

Dropping Jaws and Bombs (Kind Of)

Block wasn't familiar with Aronimink, never seen the course before. He spent Sunday through Wednesday playing nine holes a day, with his son Ethan on the bag as his caddie. Talk about family! He settled into his rhythm fast, despite two birdies and a double bogey over his first four holes. He drained a clutch 16 1/2-footer for birdie on the par-5 16th to get back in the red, cruising at 1 under for most of the day before a late bogey on the tough par-3 eighth.

Get this: his 70 beat his playing partners, two-time major champ Dustin Johnson and Rasmus Hojgaard, who both shot 72. But wait! He outscored legends like Rory McIlroy (74) and Bryson DeChambeau (76)! Block said he's with DJ, "one of my idols," and Rasmus, "an unbelievable player," both hitting it "50 yards by me on every shot." But he still went, "You got this, bud." That's the mindset right there. He knows he can do it, said it felt "very reminiscent of Oak Hill." He shot even par again, just like 2023.

What's Next for the Block Party?

So what's next for our man? Block is teeing off first thing Friday at 6:45 a.m. sharp. He's expecting a quiet morning, less wind, less crowd, and he's hoping to "shoot another even par or something like that and put myself in halfway contention going into the weekend." Can you imagine? This guy is building his own legacy right before our eyes. If his name stays on that leaderboard, you know the fans are gonna show up in force for another Block party. The cheers from Philly were "amazing." Get ready, golf fans, this underdog story is far from over! We're all on the Blockie bandwagon now!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.