PGA Championship Cult Hero Michael Block in Last Place After Day 1 at Colonial

The golf gods giveth, and the golf gods taketh away.

Four days after a dream weekend at the PGA Championship concluded for Michael Block, the California PGA course pro posted an 11-over 81 in the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial.

The total was four strokes worse than Rory Sabbatini’s 77, leaving Block in last place in the 120-man field after receiving a sponsor’s invitation to play at the historic venue.

Block said:

“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.

“If you are a golfer, you’ve had the day I’ve had.” 

“I’m gonna see my boys tomorrow night.” ❤️

After a tough day, Michael Block still finds perspective. pic.twitter.com/kzvpxCLDZP

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 26, 2023

Block emerged from the PGA Championship as one of the biggest stories from the year’s second major. Three-straight rounds of even-par 70 paired him with Rory McIlroy on the final day, and Block cemented his cult status with a slam-dunk hole-in-one on the par-3 15^th for one of the biggest reactions you’ll ever see on the course.

MICHAEL. BLOCK. ACE. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/YitD2QLDB7

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 21, 2023

Block wound up tied for 15^th, earning him a spot for next year’s PGA at Valhalla. He also received sponsor’s exemptions to play at Colonial this week and at the RBC Canadian Open next month.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, rookie Englishman Harry Hall only took 22 putts on his way to a 62. He leads the tournament by four strokes going into day two.

Cover Image Via MSN