Back to reality! PGA Championship hero Michael Block endures horrible start to his first tournament after winning $288k at Oak Hill… as he bogeys his first three holes at the Charles Schwab Challenge
- Block sat at three-over par through seven holes in his first round at Colonial
- Yesterday, he said he’d be one of the best players in the world with Rory McIlroy’s driving length and called his iron, wedge, and putting game ‘world class’
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On the first tee of his first round at the Charles Schwab Challenge, Michael Block stepped up, acknowledged the crowd, addressed the ball, and promptly shanked his drive into the trees.
The clubhouse pro who finished tied for 15th at last week’s PGA Championship entered the grounds at Colonial Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas with wind in his sails and good energy behind him.
That wind may have blown him right back to reality as Block carded three bogeys in a row to start his round.
Block had some magic left in his bag from last week’s tournament, pulling out a hybrid for a par-3 tee shot that ran up the front of the green and looked like it could fall in the hole – a repeat of last week’s magical ace on the 15th hole at Oak Hill.
It landed just four feet from the cup, with Block tapping it into the hole for birdie.
Michael Block’s opening round at Colonial didn’t go to plan, starting with three straight bogeys
It came a day after Block claimed he could be ‘one of the best in the world’ with Rory’s driving
But all that good luck was immediately undone on the next hole when he rolled a chip shot from one side of the green to another, forcing him to double back and carded yet another bogey.
His game had been off to start with – the prime example being his second shot at the second hole.
With 100 yards to the hole, Block pulled his wedge out and skulled it over the green and an estimated 42 yards deep into the trees.
It could spell the start of a heartbreaking end to a feel good story, but that may have even started before Block teed off.
Appearing on a podcast with Bob Menery, Block made the bold statement that he would be one of the best players in the world if he could drive the ball like Rory McIlroy.
‘Oh my God what I would shoot from where Rory hits it, would be stupid. I think I’d be one of the best players in the world. Hands down,’ Block said.
‘If I had that stupid length, all day. My iron game, wedge game, around the greens, and my putting is world class.’
If Block was able to find a way to come back and earn his way to playing on Saturday, it would be the fifth cut he’s made in his career.
If Block finds a way to come back, he could be set up for the fifth cut he’s made on the tour
Block won the title of Low Professional at Oak Hill – earning him $288,000 in the process
Prior to the PGA Championship, the last cut he made was at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Mississippi back in the 2014-15 PGA Tour season.
Block’s finish at Oak Hill was the stuff of legends as he became a national hero over the weekend.
He carded 70-70-70-71 across all four rounds to finish the tournament at one-over par, earning the title of Low Professional.
That earned him an astonishing $288k – vastly exceeding all his previous tour earnings combined.