Michael Block positioned T15 and have become the feel-good story finally week’s PGA Championship whereas capturing three consecutive rounds of 70 and a final-round 71. But on Day 1 on the Charles Schwab Challenge, the magic from Oak Hill merely wasn’t there.
The 46-year-old membership professional—who acquired a spot within the Charles Schwab subject by way of sponsor exemption—struggled out of the gates, making three straight bogeys on his opening holes. At the 2nd, Block skulled an iron 42 yards over the inexperienced and did nicely to save lots of bogey.
Smylie Kaufman, the on-course commentator following Block’s group, famous early within the broadcast that the membership professional had participated in 30 media interviews forward of his first spherical at Colonial—a quantity that some PGA Tour gamers won’t attain over the course of a whole season.
Block flashed his Oak Hill type on the 246-yard par-3 4th, the place he virtually made one other ace, this time with a 5 wooden. Block’s tee shot wound up simply 4 toes from the opening, and he made his first birdie of the day.
Making the flip in 2 over par with yet one more birdie and a bogey, issues appeared to be on the up for the Arroyo Trabuco GC head skilled, however his sport once more took a pointy activate the again 9.
On the par-4 tenth, Block’s tee shot discovered the penalty space, however it was no unusual part of the hazard: his ball got here to relaxation in the midst of a concrete bridge, and he wasn’t in a position to obtain a free drop due to its location. Instead, Block determined to play his ball because it lay.
Block saved par from the powerful place, however he wouldn’t have many extra hero pictures left for the remainder of the spherical.
Block completed with three double bogeys in his ultimate 4 holes to publish a back-nine 44.
Last week in Rochester, Block made simply 13 bogeys or worse in 72 holes of main championship golf.
On Thursday, he had 10 bogeys or worse in a single spherical at Colonial.
Block’s 11-over 81 left him in final place after Round 1. He’s 19 pictures behind the primary spherical chief, Harry Hall.
Source: www.si.com
