Michael Block says he’d be ‘one of world’s best’ with Rory McIlroy trait

Michael Block, the hero of this year’s PGA Championship, says he would be “one of the best players in the world” if he boasted Rory McIlroy’s distance off the tee.

Californian club professional Block had an unforgettable week at Oak Hill, making his first major cut, playing alongside McIlroy on Sunday and finishing T15 to earn over $280,000.

His magical hole-in-one on the 15th will live long in the memory for those watching both in Rochester and around the world.

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It was a life changing tournament for the 46-year-old, who has now been handed an exemption to play in this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial.

But Block has clearly never doubted his abilities to mix it with the best, now making the bold suggestion that he would be amongst the world’s elite if he was blessed with the same length as four-time major champion McIlroy.

His average driving distance in Sunday’s final round (282.5 yards) was 40 yards less than that of his Northern Irish playing partner (324.5).

https://t.co/xBPEPFF3DC pic.twitter.com/wEXRR0ck71

— MF Tilt (@MF_Tilt) May 25, 2023

And when asked on Bob Menery’s RipperMagoo Podcast what the key difference with his game and McIlroy’s was, Block was unequivocal.

“He’s a lot longer than I am, that’s what it is,” Block said.

“Oh my god – what I would shoot from where Rory hits it would be stupid.

“I think I’d be one of the best players in the world. Hands down, if I had that stupid length, all day.

“My iron game, wedge game, around the greens and my putting is world class.”

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Block’s superb up and down on 18 at Oak Hill secured him an automatic spot in next year’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.

And the opportunities will keep on coming for a man who captured the imagination of golf fans across the world at Oak Hill.

Netflix cameras were in upstate New York documenting the Block story for the second series of “Full Swing”, while he will also compete at the RBC Canadian Open in Toronto on another sponsors exemption after his visit to Colonial.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.