Michael Block misses cut in first start since PGA Championship fairy tale

Michael Block hits his first shot on the 11th hole during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. PHOTO: AFP

FORT WORTH – Michael Block was thankful for fans’ support after improving seven strokes on his opening round, but his experience at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, will end with a missed cut.

The club professional from Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, California, received a sponsor’s exemption into this week’s PGA Tour stop at Colonial Country Club after his stunning joint-15th finish at last week’s PGA Championship.

Instead of flying from upstate New York back to California, he was rerouted to Texas. The logistical and emotional roller-coaster caught up with him. Block shot an 11-over 81 on Thursday before turning in a 74 on Friday.

“I have no legs. I was scheduled to fly out at 10am last Saturday. So that (illustrates the lack of) confidence on how much I had of making the cut at the PGA Championship,” he said after his round. “Life changed a little bit since then, and I’ve enjoyed every single moment.”

Block started his second round on the back nine and made mostly pars, except for the par-three 13th, where his tee shot landed in the water and he ended up with a double bogey. Then he arrived at the par-four 18th and made a birdie from nearly 19 feet out.

He carried that into the front nine, getting out of a greenside bunker at the par-five first hole and leaving himself four feet for another birdie.

But he followed that with his second double bogey of the round and added two bogeys on his way home.

“The tee shots killed me,” Block said. “I still had the short game. I still had the irons. I still had the putter and everything else, but I’m usually a very straight driver and I love a cut, and I was not feeling it.

“I’m not even surprised by it, by my kicks and whatever else happened, my lies. It is what it is, and I’m moving on.”

The 46-year-old had won over average sports fans with not only his game but also his amiable attitude, seen in “walk-and-talk” television interviews during his rounds on Thursday and Saturday at the PGA Championship.

“I thought I was just going to hit a chord with like 40-year-olds – what do they call it? Dad bods,” Block said.

“But I think I hit a chord with all the other ones too, which is really, really cool. I met a lot of young people and old people and middle-aged people and whatever else. It’s my appreciation to them all. I just want to say thank you.”

England’s Harry Hall fired a 66 to take a three-shot lead over American Harris English (66) at the halfway stage of the competition.

Hall, ranked 197th in the world and chasing a first win on the PGA Tour, recovered from a shaky start to rattle off a string of birdies and head into the weekend at 12-under 128. REUTERS, AFP

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