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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

Michael Block’s fairytale run at the PGA Championship appears to have ended suddenly. The club professional has had a terrible start at Valhalla Golf Club. His claim to fame was his last year’s run at Oak Hill, where he became an internet sensation after making the cut and placing in the top 15 at the 2023 PGA Championship at the ripe old age of 46. His Final round, where he ended T15, led to his qualification for the 2024 PGA Championship.

This changed his life for the better. Out of the 7 major tournaments he had played before 2023, this was the first in which he made the cut. The positive reactions to his strong performance led to him becoming a sensation after two decades of laying low in the golfing world.

But good things don’t last forever. His first round of the 2024 is turning out to be a disaster. Block shot a quadruple bogey on the second hole, raising the possibility that his magical PGA Championship run may be coming to an end. Block was the first golfer at the 2024 PGA Championship to tee off. On the second hole itself, he made a disastrous quadruple bogey that set him off to a poor start.

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While it remains to be seen if Michael Block will end up as a one-hit wonder or be able to redeem himself before the weekend, one thing is clear: The bad start might have cost him the momentum he had from last year’s showing. Let’s see what the fans have to say!

Fans roast Michael Block over a disappointing quadruple bogey

The fans on X wasted no time in tearing down the club pro over his disappointing first round. One fan perfectly summed up the situation by commenting, “Blockie overstayed his welcome.” According to this fan, last year’s finish was the best he could muster up, and anything after that would only be going downhill from there. In classic word-play fashion, the fan hinted that Block should have stayed a club professional, as it was probably a better fit for him.

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Another fan commented, “His 15 minutes were up a year ago. Reality bites!” This mocking remark suggests Michael Block’s stardom was over long before he arrived at Valhalla, and his struggles are a necessary reality check for athletes competing at the highest levels. The Majors are not an easy competition, and this sets the bar high for the rest of the rounds.

The comments only got harsher as one delved deeper into the post. One fan harshly wrote, “It’s always been over. lol.” This cynical response writes off Block’s entire Cinderella run as insignificant and not something that ever had the possibility of a repeat. Although his ace at the par-3, 15th hole at Oak Hill will always be considered a legendary moment in golf, his performance this year has fallen short of the lofty highs of last year.

Another fan commented, “Maybe Blockie was the friend we made along the way.” This thoughtful, almost philosophical take on the tale implies that the journey was more important than the outcome and that Block’s real influence was uniting the golf community to support an underdog tale. His underdog tale from 2023 has definitely made him a lot of friends and fans, and helped him expand his coaching as well!

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Finally, one fan, quite condescendingly wrote, “Then we’ll never have to hear about him again? Win, win.” This sour response expresses pleasure that Block’s collapse will probably stop the endless publicity of his fairy tale story, which this commentator appeared to find annoying. But will this actually be the end, or does he have a few more tricks up his sleeve? Only time will tell!

Whether you see Michael Block’s struggles at Valhalla as an unavoidable wake-up call or as the depressing conclusion to an inspirational underdog tale, one thing is certain: his incredible run at the 2023 PGA Championship captured the imagination of golf fans worldwide. Although the audience has differing opinions, Block will have a lasting effect on the PGA Championship. Not bad for a 46-year-old club pro from California.