What Michael Block told his caddie about Dustin Johnson before playing with him at the PGA Championship

Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America via Getty Images

Michael Block has still got it!

The 49-year-old PGA professional was hanging with the big boys at the top of the leaderboard at the PGA Championship for much of his opening round, and ended up with an even-par 70.

Block has played in the PGA Championship since 2014 but has made the cut only once, finishing T15 in 2023. He’s in a great position to repeat that feat through round one.

He played with long-hitters Dustin Johnson and Rasmus Hojgaard at Aronimink, and told his caddie something vital about Johnson before his round.

Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America via Getty Images

Michael Block told his caddie not to attempt to keep up with Dustin Johnson

Block cannot compete with the long-hitters at the top of the game. He achieves a 155 mph ball speed off the tee, which Rory McIlroy can accomplish with a short iron.

So he made sure he and his caddie were playing their own game, playing within themselves, and dissecting the golf course.

After his opening round, he said, “Great round. Paired with DJ and Rasmus, two absolute bombers. The big thing at the beginning of the day was –, and I told Ethan, my son, who’s caddying for me.

“I said, ‘Do not try to hang with them. We’re just going to play our own game.’ Bunt it down the fairway. Main thing was get it in the fairway, put it in a spot, on the green or even off the green that would give us an opportunity to still make a par. And be very just — kind of dissect Aronimink, to be honest, which is what we did today.

“I dissected it to a 70 — I shot 70 today? That’s kind of cool. Yeah, had a great time. Everyone out there in Philly was very supportive. A lot of great people. Everyone in my group was great. Ethan, my caddie, and my son, killed it. We’re very happy with the end result.”