ROCHESTER, N.Y.—Michael Brock is a showman, and it’s strange to say about a PGA club pro, but when the 46-year-old is copying it at Oak Hill, why not? ? He had booked a flight back to California on Saturday morning, thinking he wouldn’t be staying in Rochester until the weekend, so he didn’t want to come here. But he’s here, after each shot, like Jim in The Office, leaning toward the camera, shrugging his shoulders and acting like he knows this shouldn’t be happening. I’m competing in this PGA Championship with the very conviction and talent I need to do my job. end.
And this fun, feel-good story did the worst thing by giving Sunday a chance to make it matter.
“Honestly, I can compete with them,” Bullock said Saturday night, trying to explain the inexplicable. “You can hang yourself.”
Block did more than just hang up. Despite conceding about 40 yards to his rivals against the backdrop of a torrential downpour, Brock managed to even out three straight games in the 70s over the three days of the PGA Championship, finishing with nine players not above average. Only one of the players. He’s six shots away and will play with Rory McIlroy on Sunday.
Winning a back six, especially with the likes of Brooks Koepka, Victor Hovland, Bryson DeChambeau and McIlroy getting in the way, may be a tall order, but that’s how Brock thinks. “They’ll have to come back a bit, but can they hit 3 or 4 under? 100 percent, absolutely, especially if the fairway dries out a bit. That would be a big deal for me.” Even if we didn’t make it, there is so much at stake for the Final 18.
First is a little history. Earlier this week, Brock said his goal was to qualify and become a professional at a lower club. He’s trying to jump over those standards. Brock is now a T-8, and while it may sound understated, the last club pro to finish in the top 10 of the leaderboard after 54 holes in a PGA Championship was Bob Boyd at Shoal Creek in 1990. . The best finish in championship history by a PGA Club professional is his T-11.
I also need some money. The PGA of America announced an additional $2.5 million in prize money this year, bringing the total to $17.5 million. A 9th-place finish would take home $500,000, and a top 20 finisher would earn $213,000. This is a pretty nice change for those charging $150 per lesson.
“[Most I’ve made is] “$75,000, 2014 Club Professional National Championship at Dunes Club in Myrtle Beach,” Bullock said. “The 2001 California State Open has been running at $4,500 for a long time, and I was so happy when I won $75,000 in one tournament,” Happy said. “
Of course, Brock is a competitor, and one of the best opportunities you’ll get on Sunday is a chance to do all this again. The top 15 finishers (and ties) will receive invitations to next year’s PGA Championship in Valhalla, Louisville. A top four finisher will qualify for the Masters. (However, a win is required to qualify for the US Open and British Open Championships.)
What this means is that Brock isn’t trying to get ahead, but to block out the noise and stay in the present moment to appreciate raw value. He’s already achieved something he doubted: whether he had a game that could compete with the best players, and he’s done it through 54 holes.
“I doubt anyone on this entire property loves golf as much as I do,” Block said. “I learned at this point to enjoy the moment, to sit back, relax and enjoy it because time flies by and life flies by. And when you retire and look back, watch this video and remember that week was the best week of my life, maybe this week will be the best week of my life So I’m going to sit as long as I can with my friends and family ‘In the house we rented, watch the video tonight and check out all my new followers on Instagram. bottom.”
The crowd seemed to enjoy it too and gave him the biggest cheers as he did his best to let you know that Brock hadn’t forgotten what he was doing. On Saturday, as he hit his final stroke, the grandstand on the 18th applauded him with a standing ovation, while Brock did what he could to hold himself back. Michael Bullock has a chance to do something special at Sunday’s PGA Championship, but for those outside, he’s already got it.
Golf Digest @ PGA Championship Details
