Club Pro Michael Block Chasing Big Payday, Paired With McIlroy in Final Round at PGA

PITTSFORD (N.Y.) (AP). Michael Block, golf's average player, is holding his own with the world's best players at this week's PGA Championship. He shook his heads and plugged his ears, not wanting to know how much he might earn if he finished among the top 10.

Block, a club professional from Southern California, told reporters on Saturday, "I don't listen." Block revealed that the biggest paycheck he has ever earned from golfing was $75,000 at the 2014 Club Professional National Championship in Myrtle Beach.

I don't care what I could or might be able to make. He added, 'I am pretty much putting my heads down.' After staying in contention after his third consecutive even par 70 which has him tied eighth at Oak Hill.

Block was intimidated by the fact that he was paired up with Justin Rose in the third round of the tournament. He refused to even look at Rose's face for the first few rounds. He'll play with Rory McIlroy on Sunday, who is a four-time Major champion.

It should be fun. He continued, "We'll have fun,' before asking, "Really?"

Block can't block out the buzz he is creating on the golf course, social media, and TV, where he seemed to be a natural doing a live interview between shots with broadcasters Jim Nantz, and Scott Van Pelt.

It's been amazing. Block stated that Scott approached him just before I teed off this morning and told me how much he had enjoyed my interview with him the other day on 14. "I looked at my caddie, my friend and thought, "This is ridiculous." I don't know what I'm even doing.

Block makes everything seem easy, both on and off course. Block, who had a double-bogey at the par-4 sixth hole on Saturday, finished the day with three birdies on the back nine and one bogey.

Block is confident despite his out-of-his element appearance. This is his seventh major. It's the first time he has made the cut.

He added: 'I love Rosey but I can compete with these guys, to be honest', in reference to Rose. I can hang. I can shoot a 3- or a 4-under tomorrow if I start hitting the fairways again.

Block is determined to make the most of every moment, no matter what happens on Sunday.

Block said, "Before you realize it, you will be 60 years old, retired, and you will look back on the videos to remember that week as the best of your life." Block said, 'I'm going sit back and relax as much as possible with my family and friends at the house that we rented tonight to watch the videos and see my new Instagram followers. It's been crazy.

100 CUTS

Phil Mickelson credits his ageing for achieving this latest milestone.

The 52-year old made it to a major 100th time with a score of 5-over 145 in the second round at the PGA Championship. Lefty is the only player in history to have made 100 major cuts, after Jack Nicklaus (131), Gary Player (108), and Tom Watson (101).

'It's a great way to show that I have had a great experience in golf, and that I have had a great number of years and opportunities', said Mickelson. He has won the PGA two times, the Masters four times, and the British Open one time.

"I'm extremely appreciative that I get to play in these tournaments. It just shows my age, I suppose, and the number of years I have been playing golf,' Mickelson said. It's been a lot of fun to play in so many events.

Penalty for WAITING

Lee Hodges received a penalty of one stroke for taking too long to putt his next shot on No. After leaving a par putt of 16 feet hanging on the lip, Hodges was penalized one stroke. The ball hung over the edge for 30 seconds, before a few raindrops finally brought it down.

The PGA Championship rules panel issued the penalty citing Rule 13.3a. This rule states that a player must wait 10 seconds for his putt to fall, even if he takes 'a reasonable amount of time' to reach the hole. The committee determined that Hodges remained at his ball more than 10 second before it fell.

Hodges ended his 75-hole round with three consecutive bogeys.

CLUB TOSS

Taylor Moore vented his frustrations on his driver when he sailed his tee-shot into the rough at the par-14 sixteenth.

Moore threw his club as he walked off the tee. After picking it back up, Moore threw the club down again, but this time more violently. The driver took several bounces in different directions.

Moore made a par on the last hole with a 2-footer. Moore shot 78 with two double-bogeys and is 11 shots over par for the tournament.

Prize Purse

The winner of PGA Championship receives $3.15 Million.

The PGA of America announced Saturday that its prize money is $17.5 Million. This is up from the $15 million prize fund of last year. The winner will earn $500,000 less than Masters champion Jon Rahm last month.

The purses of major tournaments are steadily rising, but not as fast as the PGA Tour. This year, 11 tournaments offer prize money exceeding $20 million. Each LIV Golf tournament has a purse of $20 million, and the individual winner gets $4 million.

The prize money for the other two majors has not been announced.