BANDON, Ore. — Michael Block is trying to qualify for the PGA Championship for the fifth straight year. But he finds himself in a bit of a dilemma at the PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon this week.
"My wife, I don't think she even wants me to qualify," Block said. "We all know [Aronimink] is 7,600 yards and there's no rollout and I'll get my ass handed to me, so it's probably better that I don't play in it. But at that same time, it's really cool, so that's kind of the predicament that the Block family is in."
After three rounds of the PGA Professional Championship — where the top 20 earn a spot in the field at the PGA Championship — Block is in an unfamiliar position. He's neither in it nor out of it. He enters the final round in a tie for 43rd, three shots out of the top 20. A 6-over 78 in Tuesday's third round didn't help his case, but it came on a day where seemingly everyone in the field struggled to handle a stiff 30 mph wind from the north — a Bandon Dunes signature.
More: Everything you need to know about the PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes
"I'm from Southern California, so I'm used to about 3 mph winds and the greens rolling about 11 or 12 [on the Stimpmeter]," said Block, the head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California. "Whoever wins this, whoever gets this done, they'll deserve it. Everyone's playing the same stuff. It's tough."
Block — who has qualified for four straight PGA Championships and tied for 15th at Oak Hill in 2023, the highest finish by a club pro since Jay Overton in 1988 — is just six weeks away from his 50th birthday. Playing with a younger crowd hasn't bothered him one bit at Bandon this week.
"I actually feel good this week. I've gotten back to tee the ball a bit lower and getting a little bit better compression and better speed on it. Distance isn't a problem, it's just me being off base."
Michael Block is trying to qualify for the @PGA Championship for the fifth straight year. He’s currently outside the top 20, sitting in a tie for 25th after a +3 39 on the front today. Lots of golf left. pic.twitter.com/HZaTzZmHZQ
He's still not out of it, though, and with the wind expected to blow even harder during Wednesday's final round, it's almost a certainty that the top of the leaderboard will slide back even more. Block just has to keep himself from doing the same. His game plan?
"Just go out there and get it. Play with confidence. And hopefully I played so bad today that my tee time is really early and there's no wind."
Regardless of how he plays, he'll be proudly rocking a blue ribbon on his hat in support of his good friend, Alan Scheer, another club pro who has won the Southern California Section championship in the past. He's currently in a fight with cancer.
"He's been battling some cancer the last couple years and I think our section is going to get an extra spot next year, but if for some reason, our section doesn't do it or the national doesn't do it, I will give him my spot. I'll step to the side. That's my boy. Great dude, great family and I hope he gets through it, man."
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Michael Block needs big final round to qualify for PGA Championship