In his first competitive season, Johnson Wagner knocked down enough flag sticks and hit enough putts to win three times on the PGA Tour.
But these days he is more known for his scoring shots.
As a reporter and commentator, first for NBC/Golf Channel and now for CBS Sports, Wagner, 46, has gained an ardent following for the segment in which he recreates (or tries to, anyway) key moments in the day’s action.
For golfers, it’s must-see TV. But how does it happen?
In a recent episode of the subpar GOLF podcast, Johnson discussed the origins.
It happened in the opening round of the 2024 Players Championship, when Rory McIlroy, putting his drive in the water on the par-4 7th hole, took what some considered a questionable fall. The incident sparked a conversation with McIlroy’s teammates, Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland, where the ball crossed the hazard line.
For Johnson, it also sparked a thought, which he shared with his producers.
“If we get a camera angle that shows the ball bouncing and I throw it, I can prove that (Rory) dropped it,” Johnson said, recounting a conversation with his managers on Subpar hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz.
Given the green light, Johnson teed off on the 7th hole later in the day to do just that. He had his son with him, which was helpful. The two played a long toss so Johnson didn’t get his arm out.
“I need to get to 180 ball speed,” he said.
The warm-up went well. But nothing could have prepared him for what happened when he threw the ball for real, he just watched it land above the red hazard line and went through to the left. The evidence seems negative. Leaving the lecture after the film, Johnson called his producer to express concern.
“I feel like I’ve proven that Rory has taken him down badly,” Johnson said.
His producer had good news.
“Have you checked social media?”
The part was a hit. A viral star was born. And soon he had a chance to shine again. The next day, during the players’ second round, McIlroy hit another poor drive on the 7th, a block into the trees, which he followed up with a nice recovery: a low-hook bounce shot to get back into play.
For the second time in two rounds, Johnson came out to retake the shot. It’s easier said than done. Johnson’s effort came off the tree and bounced off him.
“It wasn’t funny,” Johnson said, although many happy onlookers believed it was.
Not that it mattered. Johnson and the Golf Channel seemed to be on to something. Who can forget, for example, the glorious time at Pinehurst No. 2 in June 2024, when Johnson tries to repeat Bryson DeChambeau’s US Open-clinching shot from the green on the 18th hole?
If that one eludes you, don’t worry. Johnson recounts the details on the podcast, too. You can watch the entire episode below.
