Michael Block shot a bogey-free 7-under 65 on Saturday at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, giving him a two-shot lead heading into the final round of The Ally Challenge presented by McLaren.
Block opened his second round with an eagle and never made a bogey the rest of the way. He leads Steven Alker and Padraig Harrington, both of whom have 12 career PGA Tour Champions wins.
It is Block’s fifth start on PGA Tour Champions since turning 50 in June. His son, Ethan, is caddying for him this week.
“It’s a Godsend that he’s on my bag because I’m the least level-headed human being in the world,” Block said. “He got me through it.”
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Block made his Champions Tour debut at the Dick’s Open in late June on a sponsor’s exemption, finishing T-9. He followed that with rounds of 65-65 to open last week’s Rogers Charity Classic before a final-round 67 for a T-5 finish. Steven Alker went on to win that event in a playoff for his second title of the year.
A win Sunday would be Block’s first PGA Tour Champions title. Even a top-10 finish carries stakes for his season.
“Top-10 is huge for me. If I get a top-10, it gets me into the Sanford International in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, which has been a huge goal of mine,” Block said. “That would officially put me into the official Charles Schwab Cup money list, which would get me into the Playoffs, which would get me then into Norwood Hills and St. Louis, which is where I’m from, so there’s a lot going on.”
Block, who does not hold a PGA Tour Champions card, has played this season on sponsor exemptions.
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“I hate, I really dislike, the whole begging for spots. I don’t like it but I have been, I’ve been begging for spots,” Block said. “And thank God I’ve gotten two top-10s which got me into two events and I’m begging for other events and it’s not what I like to do. I like to earn my way and I think I did.”
Block’s most recent major-tour start before this stretch ended in controversy. He was disqualified from the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship in Aberdeen, Scotland, on August 9, after leaving the course during his final round without completing the tour’s process for reporting an injury or withdrawal. He had opened with a two-stroke penalty for arriving late to his tee time, shot a front-nine 43, and left after a bogey on the 12th hole. A Legends Tour spokesperson said Block departed “without completing the necessary process of advising Tour officials of any injury or illness,” so his listing was recorded as a DQ rather than a withdrawal. Block disputed reports that he was frustrated with the course, saying he withdrew due to a left wrist injury and that he informed his playing partners and tour officials before leaving.
