Veteran hits back at ‘absurd’ claims after bizarre disqualification
Veteran golfer Michael Block claims he was unfairly disqualified from the PGA Seniors Championship after he walked off the course 12 holes into the final round.
Block was given a sponsor invite to the competition held at Trump International Golf Links in Scotland over the weekend, but he was hit with a two-stroke sanction and later a disqualification when he attempted to withdraw from the event.
Michael Block looks on from the first green. Dylan Buell
The 50-year-old conceded that the two-stroke sanction for being late to his tee time was a correct punishment as he “was a couple seconds late” due to taking pictures with volunteers.
“First time in my career (that’s happened) and it’s completely my fault,” he said.
But Block refused to accept having disqualification written next to his name.
As per the Legends Tour rules, players must complete the “necessary process of advising officials of any injury or illness” if they are to withdraw from an event.
Officials claimed that Block did not correctly adhere to the process and simply walked off the course after 12 holes, meaning he would be disqualified.
It was alleged in initial reports that Block was unhappy with the course set-up and did not inform his playing partners of his decision to halt his round.
But Block has since clarified that he attempted to withdraw correctly after travelling to the clubhouse with a man wearing a European Tour jacket. He said there was no official in the office to deliver his withdrawal news to.
“I walked into the championship office to thank them for the week but no one was there,” he explained to Golf Digest.
“I thought nothing of it, thinking that I had withdrawn correctly ... but I guess the gentleman who gave me the ride was not an official, so I was disqualified.
“To hear these accusations that I just walked off the course and that I was upset about the course conditions is absurd.”
The US player had shot 43 on the front nine, playing through a minor wrist issue.
“I tweaked my already weak left wrist on the 10th hole when hitting out of a bush,” said Block.
“I went into the brush again a couple holes later and didn’t want to injure it more. I was completely out of the tournament and didn’t feel it was smart to keep going.”
Block is listed to play at the Boeing Classic this week.