Club Pro Michael Block Finishes Last in Charles Schwab Challenge

Michael Block, a club professional, struggled in his first start at the Charles Schwab Challenge tournament, finishing in last place by four strokes. Block shot an 11-over 81 on the opening day, with three straight bogeys to start the round and consecutive doubles on the 15th and 16th holes. A smothered wedge on the par-4 18th only added to his frustration and disbelief. Block referenced the last two weeks of his life, which involved an endorsement deal, interviews, and a sponsor exemption into the tournament.

When asked to assess his round, Block replied that it was just “one of those days of golf” and acknowledged that he would “live with it.” However, he became emotional when thinking about his family and seeing them that night in California. He paused multiple times, seemingly overwhelmed by the weight and reality of the past two weeks, including his performance at the PGA Championship and the following publicity. When asked about the role of fatigue in his performance, he was unsure.

Block had only seen the course once during a quick practice round on Tuesday. Despite the disappointing finish, he was not surprised by it and acknowledged that he expected it to happen sooner. Block remains optimistic and is looking forward to going home to his family the next day.

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