Michael Block DQ: What Really Happened in Scotland

The Michael Block DQ at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship in Aberdeen, Scotland, has become one of the most talked-about rulings in senior golf this year. What began as a rough final round for the fan-favorite golfer turned into a confusing mid-round exit, a two-shot penalty, and ultimately an official disqualification instead of a simple withdrawal.

Why the Michael Block DQ Happened

Block came into the final round already well outside contention after carding three consecutive over-par rounds at Trump International. Things got worse before they got better: he was assessed a two-shot penalty for arriving late to his tee time after stopping for a photo, then struggled through the front nine before an injury flare-up on the back nine led him to leave the course altogether. Because he left without formally notifying a tournament official of an injury, the Legends Tour recorded the exit as a disqualification rather than a withdrawal.

Timeline of Events

Stage	What Happened
Rounds 1 to 3	Block shot 76-73-78, sitting 11-over and in 49th place entering the final round
Sunday tee time	Assessed a two-shot penalty for arriving a few seconds late after stopping for photos
Front nine	Shot a 43, falling further out of contention behind leader Darren Fichardt
Hole 10	Hit into a bush, then played a punch-out recovery shot that aggravated a wrist injury
Hole 12	Made a final bogey, then left the course shortly after
Post-round	Officially recorded as disqualified (DQ) rather than withdrawn (WD)

Michael Block's Side of the Story

Block has disputed the idea that he simply walked off without a word. He says he thanked his playing partners, their caddies, the walking scorer, and nearby spectators, then handed off his scorecard and asked for a ride from someone he believed was a tour official. He later posted on social media insisting he told his playing partners he was withdrawing and that the couple-of-seconds tee-time infraction was a first for him.

The Legends Tour, however, said Block left before completing his round without going through the required process of notifying officials of an injury. That is why the ruling shows as a disqualification instead of a retirement or withdrawal.

Block's Statement vs. Legends Tour's Statement

Claim	Michael Block's Account	Legends Tour's Position
Notification	Says he told playing partners and caddies he was withdrawing	Says no formal notice was given to tour officials
Ride off course	Believed the person who gave him a ride was an official	Person was reportedly not an authorized tour official
Reason for exit	Wrist injury aggravated on a hole 10 recovery shot	Acknowledges the exit but disputes the process followed
Official ruling	Believed he had properly withdrawn (WD)	Recorded the exit as a disqualification (DQ)

What This Means Going Forward

Regardless of the miscommunication, the responsibility in golf rulings ultimately falls on the player, and the Legends Tour appears unlikely to reverse the call. Block is known as much for his relatable, fan-favorite persona as his play, and this incident adds another chapter to an already eventful season, even if the Michael Block DQ itself stemmed more from a procedural mix-up than any intentional rule-breaking.

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Michael Block DQ: What Really Happened in Scotland