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 But over a two-week stretch in June, Block transcended his pedestrian path in golf and became a media darling during the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. He also made some pretty cool friends. The Aliso Viejo resident's journey began at the U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Bear Creek Golf Club in Murrieta on June 4. Block, 31, who won a local qualifier at Palm Desert's Ironwood Country Club in May, shot a 69 over the first 18 holes to put himself in position to gain one of the four qualifying spots. Despite struggling in the second round, he birdied his last three holes to enter a four-man playoff for the final spot - which he won with a birdie on the first extra hole. Block hastily adjusted his work schedule and arrived at Oakmont on the Friday before tournament week and played practice rounds on Saturday and Sunday, where he met Masters champion Zach Johnson on the course. The elbow rubbing didn't stop there. Prior to a practice round with Ryan Moore on Tuesday, Block was in the player's lounge when Phil Mickelson stopped to say hello. "I grew up in Iowa, and Phil knew I was from Iowa because Zach told him," Block said. "Phil's a really, really cool guy." It was a headcover in Block's golf bag that prompted his next memorable introduction. By alphabetical luck, his locker was next to that of eventual winner Angel Cabrera, who noticed that one of Block's headcovers bore the national colors of his native Argentina. Block's wife, Valeria, is from Cordoba, the same city where Cabrera grew up. The coincidence segued into a friendship between Cabrera and Block's family, who were in attendance. "Who knew he was going to win the tournament?" Block said. Block shot a 69 during his Wednesday practice round, punctuated by a holed shot for an eagle on the par-5 12th that made it onto the ESPN highlight reel. Block did it again in the first round - this time from 132 yards on the par-4 14th - and just like that, his name flashed on the leaderboard. ESPN again used his shot as a first-round highlight. "My life hasn't been the same since," said Block, who missed the cut with a 16-over-par 156. As Block and his family were about to leave Oakmont on Monday morning, Valeria bumped into Cabrera at the hotel. The newly crowned champion, who had been up late celebrating, was so enamored with Block and his family that he invited them to be his guests at the Argentina Open in December. If all falls into place, Block hopes to have his PGA Tour card by the time he competes in that event. His experience at the U.S. Open convinced him he is capable of holding his own inside the ropes, and he has already put the PGA Tour Qualifying School on his schedule. "I'm playing the best golf of my life and I feel like I've matured in every way. Now just seems like the right time to do it," Block said. "If I keep on doing this, I know I am going to make it." |
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