People's champion Michael Block has joined the stellar field for next month's Australian Open golf championship in Sydney.
A teaching pro in California, Block became a viral sensation while sharing 15th place at this year's US PGA Championship in New York.
The American capped his fairytale performance with a Sunday hole-in-one playing alongside Irish superstar Rory McIlroy.
The top-15 finish earned Block a return to the major championship in 2024 and now the fan favourite has chosen to launch his season at The Australian Golf Club from November 30 to December 3.
This year's Open is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and will be hosted by The Australian and The Lakes golf clubs.
"I am so excited to come 'Down Under' and play the Australian Open," Block said.
"It has been a truly unbelievable year for me, both on and off the course, and what better way to finish 2024 than to head to Australia, play some golf and see the sights of Sydney."
Maintaining the world-first dual gender format of 2022, Block joins major winners Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Minjee Lee, Hannah Green and PGA and LPGA Tour stars Min Woo Lee, Cameron Davis, Lucas Herbert and Stephanie Kyriacou as confirmed starters for the Open being co-hosted by The Lakes GC.
"Like all golf fans, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Michael's perform at Oak Hill and hearing his unique perspectives through a week where he played so well," said Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland.
"We are delighted to welcome him into our increasingly strong Australian Open field."
One of 18 events on PGA Tour of Australasia schedule for the 2023-24 season, the Australian Open's first two rounds will be split between The Lakes and The Australian courses.
The final two rounds will be played at The Australian.
