Michael Block Breaks Down In Tears After 81 At Charles Schwab Challenge

The much-loved club pro was looking forward to seeing his children back home after an eventful 81 at Colonial

Michael Block in despair during the Charles Schwab Challenge
(Image credit: Getty Images)

A tearful Michael Block said he was "going to see my boys tomorrow night" after opening with an eventful 81 at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

Block compiled an 11-over-par score to leave him in last-place in the 120-man field, four behind Rory Sabbatini in 119th position.

The much-loved club pro began with a bogey before knifing a wedge through the back of the second green from the middle of the fairway to fall to two-over after two.

He composed himself to turn in two-over after a tap-in birdie on the 9th hole but leaked away nine strokes coming home. Block's second half featured three dropped shots and three doubles to all-but end his hopes of making the cut.

Watch Block hit a shot from a bridge:

It seems that the emotions remain high for the club pro, who has now shot to huge fame within the golf world. He even caused a bit of controversy this week by saying he would be one of the best players in the world with Rory McIlroy's length.

His round at Colonial featured huge galleries and his every shot was seen on TV. The T15 finisher last week, who made a hole-in-one while playing with Rory McIlroy on Sunday at Oak Hill, admitted that he was looking forward to getting home as the tears started to flow.

"It's one of those days of golf. If you play golf, you know exactly what just happened," Block said after his 81. "So I don't really need to explain it too much because, if you are a golfer, you've had the day I've had. 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, et cetera, et cetera.

"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.

Michael Block walks in front of huge galleries at the Charles Schwab Challenge

(Image credit: Getty Images)

"The experience I had that last week was next level. So today, coming out here and not having my game at all and having a lot of bad luck or whatever you might call it, just call it golf.

"It is what it is. At the same time, I sat there, and I thought about it, and I said, I'm going to see my boys tomorrow night.

"Like I said, I'm not disappointed. I'm going to go home tomorrow night. (Crying). I'm sorry."

The low club pro at last week's PGA Championship seems content to go home after a missed cut, although he is still backing himself to shoot a low one on Friday.

"I'm looking forward to coming out tomorrow and playing a great round and giving it everything I have," he said.

"I've shot 58, and I've shot a 59 in my life, and since what I had today, I wouldn't be surprised if I did it. So if I do, cool. If not, I'll be seeing my kids and my wife tomorrow night in Orange County, California. It's all good one way or the other."

Luckily for Block, he'll return to PGA Tour action in two weeks' time after also receiving an invite into the RBC Canadian Open.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV