Michael Block’s first visit to PGA Tour Champions it went better than he could have hoped – until the last hole.
The PGA Professional of America who became a cult hero at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill played this week’s Dick’s Open with one exception. The 50-year-old leading pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club opened with a six-under 66 on Friday.
“For me to come out here today and shoot what I did the first time out, the pressure I had, everybody’s looking at me, I’ve got all the haters out there, who, you know, I love you guys. Come on, I hope you like that 66,” Block said.
Block bounced back with a 70 Saturday, but on Sunday, he fired up the crowd at Endicott, New York, when he went five-under 32 and then birdied 14, 15 and 16 to take a lead.
With the leaders still several holes to play behind him, Block’s chances of winning were slim despite his late burst. Then, any hope he had quickly vanished on the 54th and final hole of his senior tour debut.
Block’s putt found the fairway, but then things unraveled when his wedge shot hit a tree and into a bunker, leading to a triple bogey and a T9 finish at 13 under, five behind eventual winner Dicky Pride. In the end, Block would need a birdie finish to enter a playoff with the Pride and Padraig Harrington. He finished par-triple.
“It was exactly what I had dreamed of and wanted to do, to be honest,” Block said of his Champions Tour debut. “And I didn’t hit bad on 18, that was the most disappointing part about it. I only made a couple of bogeys all week, and for me to triple the last hole when I hit it down the middle of the fairway, I hit a 52-degree wedge right into the pin, and it hit the tree, which I think was honestly putting the pin in the bunker, and then all hell breaks loose.
“But it cost me a lot of points, a lot of money, a lot of everything, which is very disappointing. I’m out here trying to maybe make my way in this tournament and it hurts a lot.”
Despite the unfortunate finish, Block left the Dick’s Open believing he has what it takes to win the 50-plus tournament, including next week’s US Senior Open, for which Block qualified.
“I realize after this week that I can compete here, I can definitely — I can win here,” Block said Sunday. “My game is pretty good and I’m looking forward to it
being out for the other. Honestly, I’m very fortunate to be playing in the US Open (Senior) next week in Columbus at Scioto and I can’t wait to finish it, to be honest, because I’m doing really well.”
Block said the reception from his Champions Tour peers has been great this week. He said he received “punching” from some of his competitors, including Darren Clarke, who he played against on Saturday.
All in all, Block, always a showman, called his Champions Tour debut a dream and looked ahead to next week’s top seed in Columbus with his eyes on a prize he says has always been at the top of his list.
“So my idols now know me, which is really cool, and we’re going to have a lot of fun next week in Columbus,” Block said. “Columbus, I’m coming for you.”
And with that, Michael Block’s senior tour debut was over. The three-day odyssey had everything you’d expect: hater talk, revealing a dream, electrical reactions after shock, playing it up to the crowd and unfettered confidence that he can get a trophy against his “idols”.
The Block Party will arrive in Columbus at the Scioto Country Club next week.
