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Like few golfers before him, Michael Block has struggled with the volatile nature of high-profile professional fan sport this week. Monday, on the heels of his fairytale finish at the PGA Championship, he’s a working-class hero who has united social media (no small feat) in praise and adulation; By Thursday morning, he was suffering the wrath of an online mob, exposing just how cruel popular culture can be.
Picture this: The teaching pro takes a week off work to play a major tournament for which he’s qualified. An avid fan of the rare sport of professional golf, he has the week of his life, beating out the likes of John Rahm, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, throughout his endearing fervor to the fans who took him to their hearts as “one of our own.” The Cinderella story culminated in a hole-in-one and an up-and-down on the 72nd hole which would have made Saif proud.
Sure, this pro had plenty of tournament experience, but never under such a hot light, and in such a difficult setting with mid-tour check-ins with Jim Nantz. To transition from the educational tee and PGA division events to Sunday afternoons in the major News Cup Things, they might have just been overshadowed by John Daly’s Crooked Stick theatrics all those years ago.
When you make it to the top—even just for a week—by turbo through the process, you skip some crucial steps to prepare you for the arena you’ve just entered. You are now public property. Every snapshot you take is analyzed. I noticed every word you said. Even your body language is analyzed.
This is where our new hero becomes uncaught in the eyes of the judge and jury online. Having played Rory McIlroy at Oak Hill on Sunday, he believed – and somewhat rightly – that if McIlroy’s height was combined with his short game, he would be a world-class player. As a top level golfer, you Need to think this way. Self-confidence is as essential as any club in your bag. But of course there is a difference between thinking and saying those things, especially in a public forum. And that was all the mob needed to turn on our supporter, who gave dozens more interviews without incident in the wake of his star role, and without the benefit of media training.
One Proper bite.
Popped out, a nugget of needle specialists in the golf world. Cut and paste the clip all over the internet and…presto! Public opinion shifts with a sudden gust of wind on the coastal links.
After an unexpected 15th-place finish in the all-around, our Pro would have benefited from a few days off; He was definitely exhausted from the mental and physical demands of what had just happened. But he did not have that luxury. He had to chase the dollar and profit as much as he could. PGA Tour invitations don’t come around very often, and the cuts that take place there pay much better than the lessons held on a public scale in Mission Viejo, California.
The Twitter army of clerks wasn’t interested in showing mercy, because mercy doesn’t pay for likes and retweets. Maybe if they understand that our supporter is not used to appearing in today Showing or alongside Dan Patrick, they won’t make fun of him for his speech errors, or his first-round 81 in his next start.
But the town square on social media doesn’t work that way. She doesn’t see an incredible golf story; Instead, he sees an opportunity to get rid of what he helped build.
A sad indictment of our culture, you might say. Before Twitter and Instagram, professional athletes didn’t have to deal with a firestorm of fallout over a poorly-crafted if ultimately harmless comment. But this is the world we live in now, the best and worst in us comes to fruition in 280 characters or less. As a swing instructor who has taught two major champions and winners on seven different tours, I have nothing but respect for our professional and thank him for all he has done for the game and the attention he has brought to the hardworking members of the PGA.
Congratulations, Mr. Block – ignore the cold, timid souls watching from the sidelines.
Jonathan Yarwood has been a GOLF Top 100 Teacher since 2019. He is the Director of Instruction for the Alpine Country Club in DemarestAnd New Jersey.