PGA pro Michael Block's hole-in-one capped off a storybook PGA Championship run

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PGA pro Michael Block's hole-in-one capped off a storybook PGA Championship run
Rory McIlroy celebrates with Michael Block after an ace at the PGA Championship.David Cannon/Getty Images
  • Michael Block made the PGA Championship as a club pro and had the weekend of his life.
  • Block finished T15 amongst the best players in the world to earn a spot in next year's tournament.
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Brooks Koepka won the PGA Championship on Sunday, but no player likely had a better weekend than PGA club pro Michael Block.

Block was one of 20 PGA club professionals invited to compete alongside the PGA Tour's best at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. Block earned his spot in the field thanks to a solid finish in the PGA Professional Championship earlier in May.

For most PGA club pros, the invitation to the PGA Championship is the prize in and of itself, but Block made the most of his opportunity and wound up with a T15 finish on Sunday. For a guy who charged $150 a lesson, coming home with a check for more than $280,000 probably feels pretty sweet.

But better than the cash Block earned were the memories. Through two rounds, Block was already living the dream. After making the cut with back-to-back rounds of even par, Block was informed that he was leading World No. 1 Jon Rahm by six strokes.

"Pretty, pretty cool, to say the least," Block said as he realized he was crushing the best player on the planet.

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He continued, fighting back tears.

"I wish you guys could come to my office and hang out with me and come teach with me on the back of the driving range with my students who are out there right now," Block said. "Sorry. I don't know why that makes me emotional, but it does."

Little did Block know, his magical run was just beginning.

After another round of even par on Saturday, Block was informed that he'd be playing his Sunday round alongside Rory McIlroy, yet another unbelievable development in his already unbelievable week.

Somehow, Sunday got even better for Block.

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At the par 3, No. 15, Block slam dunked a hole-in-one, sending the crowd into blissful cheers. Block couldn't believe it as it happened and had to double-check with McIlroy that his ball had indeed settled in the cup.

"I'm like, 'Why is Rory giving me a hug?'" Block said after the round. "Rory gives me a hug for hitting it 3, 4, 5 feet? That's weird. I'm like, 'I think I just made it.'"

He got another rousing ovation as he picked up his ball from the hole.

"To do it on that hole on this stage was a lifelong dream," Block said. "It can never get better. That's it. I can retire. Good night."

But Block won't be retiring just yet.

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Three holes later, Block was on his 72nd hole of the weekend, needing a par to hold on to a T15 finish. Given that the top 15 finishers get an automatic invite back to the PGA Championship next year, there was plenty at stake for Block.

After his second shot missed the green, Block pulled off a masterful up-and-down that again brought the crowd to its feet.

The cheers were so raucous that Block had to gesture to the crowd for them to settle down, as McIlroy still had to finish out his putt.

Block leaves the PGA Championship with a $288,333 payday with the win. In addition to his invite to next year's PGA Championship, his story has also already earned Block sponsor's exemptions from several more upcoming events, though Block, 46, says he doesn't plan on taking up a full professional schedule.

Regardless of how he performs in his next PGA Tour events, Block has already lived the dream and, for one weekend, stood on top of the world of professional golf.

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