PGA Championship star who missed the cut blames fans for it

at the , but for 82 of the 156 golfers who entered the tournament is already over. The cut line was eventually set at one over par, McIlroy's exact score overnight, with the likes of former winner , Phil Mickelson, and Martin Kaymer among the high-profile names to fall short.

For club pro Michael Block, though, that fate was inevitable long before he reached the clubhouse on Friday. The 48-year-old left himself out of contention on Thursday after an opening round of 87. To his credit, Block fought hard on Friday to post a 70, but an overall score of 15-over-par left him way down the field.

However, afterwards, the American chose to cite the crowd, and not his own play, for his struggles. Around 100,000 fans are said to have come through the gates at Quail Hollow over the first two days, with the venue size seemingly not enough for Block.

"Kind of the funny part is I wish there was a huge crowd on every hole because that's when I hit my shots," he said after his second round. "When there's no one around is when I hit my worst shots.

"That's something that I need more in my life is a bigger crowd. I just need to play a little better, so it could happen. I could only imagine what would have happened if I had been playing really well this week."

Block was playing in just his ninth major event, having first appeared in the in 2007. Only once has he made the cut, although he remains a fan favourite for his efforts at the PGA Championship two years ago.

He finished tied for 15th at Oak Hill Country Club at the age of 46, the highest finish for a club professional in decades. He also thrilled the crowds in his final round when, playing alongside McIlroy, he carded the only hole-in-one of the tournament.

His efforts two years ago have earned the four-time Southern California Championship winner an invite back to the tournament these past two years. The £217,000 prize money he received also dwarfed his previous biggest prize fund of £57,000.