California club pro Michael Block, who made a name for himself at the PGA Championship, shot an 11-over 81 in the opening round of the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, leaving him in last place and 19 shots behind Harry Hall. Block received a sponsor exemption for the tournament after his impressive performance at the PGA Championship, but struggled from the start, bogeying four of his first five holes and closing with double-bogeys on three of his last four. Despite the disappointing round, Block remained philosophical, saying “It is what it is. I’m going to live with it.”
California club pro Michael Block had a dream week at the PGA Championship, but his reality check came on Thursday at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. Block shot an 11-over 81, leaving him in last place and 19 shots behind Harry Hall.
Block received a sponsor exemption for the Charles Schwab Challenge and the RBC Canadian Open after his impressive performance at the PGA Championship. He tied for 15th against the strongest field in golf, made a hole-in-one on the 15th hole, and played with Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy on Saturday and Sunday.
However, Block’s week at the Charles Schwab Challenge did not go as planned. He bogeyed four of his first five holes and closed with double-bogeys on three of his last four. Block missed seven fairways and hit just six pars in his round.
Despite his struggles, Block did have some highlights. On the par-4 10th, he hit his drive way right and settled on a cart path bridge. Block hit a wedge over a tree from the path to the front side of the green and got up and down for a wild par save.
“If you are a golfer, you’ve had the day I’ve had,” Block said after his worst score by seven shots in the four PGA Tour-level events he has played this year. “You understand the facts of where the lies aren’t good and the trees are in your way every time. Even your good shots are bad, your bad shots are worse.
“It is what it is. I’m going to live with it. I thought it was going to happen that third or fourth round last week at Oak Hill, and it never happened. It happened now, and I wasn’t surprised by it, to tell you the truth.”
Block’s opening-round 81 is a reality check after his dream week at the PGA Championship. However, he remains optimistic and plans to live with his performance and learn from it.
Block’s performance at the PGA Championship earned him a spot in next year’s event, and he will look to build on his experience and continue to compete at the highest level of golf.
