Georgie Bingham: Why Block gives us all hope and taketh it away too

May 30

Michael Block of the United States hits his second shot on hole #11 during Round Two of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club on May 26, 2023 in Ft. Worth, Texas. (Photo by Jason Allen/ISI Photos/Getty Images).

Famous for five minutes, golf has not been short in its effusive adoration of Californian low-pro Michael Block who hit the prize money jackpot at the PGA Championship and broke a load of qualifying pro records that had stood since the 80’s. He was a joy; he was the story, he’s been everywhere since. As golf’s administrators cringed at the first major victory for a LIV player, thank god for Block, and his unlikely kinship with Rory McIlroy on the final day.

A week on, Block has proved what so many who play and cover the highest level of golf say ALL the time. Think what you like - but the average low professional really can’t live with golf’s elite despite the fact we’d love the idea they can. On Sunday after his finish Michael Block spoke enthusiastically about putting together the four wonderful rounds of dream golf that saw him finish T15. By Tuesday, he was claiming that his length off the tee was the (only) reason he couldn’t cut it with the likes of Rory McIlroy (one of the game’s biggest hitters) consistently.

“It’s not about distance, or flair, it’s about consistency at the very highest level. The very very top of the game put four rounds together every week as a matter of course. Putting four rounds together is their minimum requisite”

— Georgie Bingham

By Saturday, a reminder of how impossible the game really is; Block said he felt the “wrath of the golf gods” as he was sent packing from the PGAs Charles Schwab invitational after failing to make the cut at the very back of the field. Block also said he was exhausted, I am not surprised; he’d done every media obligation presented to him in the week - but look back at his pure honesty post Oak Hill to find where the answer really lies - Block told Sky Sports that it was the first time in his career he’d managed to absolutely NAIL four rounds back to back to do so well.

Michael Block of The United States is congratulated by his playing partner Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland on the 18th green after they had finished their rounds during the final round of the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club on May 21, 2023 in Rochester, New York. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

And that’s the thing isn’t it? It’s not about distance, or flair, it’s about consistency at the very highest level. The very very top of the game put four rounds together every week as a matter of course. Putting four rounds together is their minimum requisite. When they put together four SPECTACULAR rounds, they pretty much always win. This is the difference and this is what makes the very top of the game a cut above (if you’ll pardon the pun). This is where Michael Block can never sit despite the fact he’ll be a name we will always enjoy. Thank you for the moment Michael, no one can ever take it from you or from our memories either, but that’s that episode done - and we all move on. Brutal isn’t it?!