Michael Block made his PGA Champions Tour debut last week, and ended up finishing in a very respectable tie for ninth.
However, things could have been even better for Block, after he made a triple bogey seven on his final hole of the tournament.
The 50-year-old club professional is clearly a fantastic golfer, and he has an unerring faith in his own ability.
Sometimes Michael Block rubs people up the wrong way, with his extreme confidence often being perceived as arrogance.
However, Block’s performance on PGA Tour Champions last week proved that he truly belongs at the very highest level.
And this week, he’ll be hopeful of contending in his very first senior major.
How major champions have treated Michael Block on PGA Tour Champions
Block addressed the media on Wednesday ahead of the US Senior Open.
The 50-year-old is a polarizing character and, as such, there were questions being asked about how he would be welcomed on the senior circuit.
Block was asked whether he was concerned about how he would be received by PGA Tour Champions players when he made his debut last week.
“Hundred percent,“ the 50-year-old admitted.
“I had no idea how these guys would look at me, the club pro. Like I kind of said, had one great tournament and then for the last couple years missed some cuts and stuff like that. I didn’t know how they were going to be.
“But it was unbelievable last week when I showed up at Endicott for the Dick’s, how receiving they were, how they all walked up to me, made me feel at home. They said welcome.
“Then to be honest, after that 66 in that first round on that Friday, it became even more so. Then I was paired with Darren Clarke and Freddie Jacobsen on the second round. Unbelievable pairing, two guys I looked up to. I knew Freddie before, I played with him at the Riviera once, but didn’t know Darren.
“Played with Darren; had an unbelievably great time on Saturday. Then as I’m walking in onto the putting green, going through players dining on Sunday, there’s Darren Clarke. He’s over there putting. He immediately looks up, comes over to me and gives me knuckles and goes, ‘let’s get after it today’.
“I mean, it’s amazing how — I’m just in there and I look back at my kid who’s my caddie and he’s walking behind me, is this crazy? Retief Goosen is walking up to me and giving me knuckles. It’s unbelievable how cool these guys have been.“
Michael Block has noticed a big difference from the PGA Tour
Block suggested there is a more relaxed atmosphere at PGA Tour Champions events than there is at PGA Tour tournaments.
“I think the current PGA TOUR players are built differently right now where it’s way more cutthroat,” he said.
“Every person is their own entity/business. These guys have already done what they’ve needed to do. They’re out here to have a good time.
“You can tell they still take it very seriously and they’re still unbelievable golfers. But they’re here. There just isn’t that stress of the team atmosphere. Each guy doesn’t have 12 guys following him around like they do at the PGA Championship. They’ve got family members. Most of the guys have their kid on the bag like I do.
“So it’s way more of a family-friendly atmosphere, whole bunch of good buddies. I’ve only been on this TOUR for a week and a half, and I already feel like I’m part of it, which is really cool.“
Michael Block is clearly loving life on PGA Tour Champions, and he will be expecting to contend at the US Senior Open this week.
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