Michael Block, other pros have U.S. Open fates decided
Michael Block was the biggest story in golf when he came out of nowhere to finish 15th in the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, a run that included an incredible hole-in-one late in the final round. That unforgettable shot, and a nearly as incredible up-and-down on the 18th hole, qualified him for next year's PGA by one shot.
However, if the 46-year-old club pro from Mission Viejo, Calif., wanted to parlay that finish into playing in next week's U.S. Open in Los Angeles, he was gonna have to get there the hard way, by placing in the top three in this week's qualifying tournament in Toronto.
Unfortunately, Block came up two shots short, finishing an impressive 5-under over two rounds. It placed him in sixth place out of 27 hopefuls, which will sadly deny viewers of all the great moments he wowed us with just three weeks ago at the PGA.
Block certainly wasn't the only big name to fall short during qualifying. Block's son, Dylan, actually tried his hand at making the U.S. Open field in the LA qualifying event, one of 10 such tourneys across North America this week, but didn't make it.
The elder Block will have to settle for playing in this week's RBC Canadian Open, where he earned a sponsor's exemption, courtesy of his awe-inspiring display at Oak Hill.
Also coming up short in qualifying Monday were several recognizable Tour pros, such as Harold Varner III, Bill Haas, Ted Potter, Jimmy Walker, Bo Van Pelt, Marc Leishman, Brendan Steele, Cameron Tringale and Lucas Glover.
A total of 45 qualifiers will tee off alongside last year's champion Matthew Fitzpatrick at next week's U.S. Open, which begins June 15 at Los Angeles Country Club.
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