BANDON, Ore. — Michael Brock is looking to qualify for the PGA Championship for the fifth straight year. But he’s in a bit of a dilemma this week at the PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon.
“I don’t think my wife even wants me to qualify,” Block said. “We all know (Aronimink’s) 7,600 yards, no rollout, he’s going to get his ass handed to him. So maybe he shouldn’t play. But at the same time, it’s really cool. So that’s kind of the predicament the Bullock family is in.”
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After three rounds of the PGA Professional Championship, in which the top 20 players qualify for the PGA Championship, Block is in an unfamiliar position. He is neither there nor has he left. He enters the final round in a tie for 43rd place, three strokes out of the top 20. A 6-over 78 in the third round on Tuesday wasn’t a strong showing, but on this day everyone in the field seemed to be struggling to withstand the strong 30 mph winds from the north that characterize Bandon Dunes.
more: Everything you need to know about the PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes
“I’m from Southern California, so I’m used to winds of about 3 miles an hour and greens rolling around 11 or 12 (on the Stimpmeter),” said Block, head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California. “Whoever wins, whoever gets through this, deserves credit. Everybody’s doing the same thing. It’s tough.”
Brock, who has qualified for the PGA Championship four years in a row and tied for 15th at Oak Hill in 2023, the highest finish by a club professional since Jay Overton in 1988, will celebrate his 50th birthday in six weeks. This week in Bandung, I didn’t mind playing to a young crowd at all.
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“I’ve actually been feeling good this week. I’m hitting the tee a little lower, compressing the ball a little better, ball speed a little better. It’s not about distance, it’s just being off base.”
But he’s not out of the woods yet, with even more wind expected for Wednesday’s final round, which is almost certain to push him further back at the top of the leaderboard. Brock just has to make sure he doesn’t do the same thing. What’s his game plan?
“Just go out there and get it. Play with confidence. And I hope the tee time is really early and there’s no wind because I played so bad today.”
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No matter how he plays, he’ll be proudly waving the blue ribbon on his cap in support of his good friend Alan Scheer, who won a Southern California Section championship in the past. He is currently battling cancer.
“He’s been battling cancer for the last few years and I think he’ll get an extra spot in our section next year, but if for some reason our section doesn’t make it or the national team doesn’t make it, I’ll give him that spot. I’ll step aside. That’s my son. Great player, great family. I hope he gets through this.”
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Michael Brock needs big final round to qualify for PGA Championship
