With three PGA Tour victories to his name, Johnson Wagner had himself a fine career as a tour pro. That said, “star” is not a word we’d use to describe him. Nor would he.
But now Wagner has transitioned into a role on television, where stars can be born regardless of playing resume. Look no further than one of Wagner’s Golf Channel co-workers, Brandel Chamblee, who, despite having just one tour victory, is golf’s biggest television star. Love him or hate him, you watch.
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And if you have been watching LIVE FROM on Golf Channel this week, you’ve witnessed the rise of another budding TV star in Wagner, who set Golf Twitter ablaze on Thursday evening when he reenacted Rory McIlroy’s penalty on the par-4 seventh at TPC Sawgrass. And by reenact we mean he was firing balls into the rough like he was Nolan Ryan:
.@Johnson_Wagner re-creates the possible bounce Rory McIlroy's shot took that caused confusion on the 7th hole.
📺: Golf Channel & @peacock | #THEPLAYERS pic.twitter.com/hSWklCdOsT
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 14, 2024
Golf Channel must have seen the social media chatter, all of it positive, and decided to let J-Wags cook again on Friday night. Only this time he wasn’t reenacting how a golf ball may have bounced into a penalty area. He was recreating full freaking golf shots:
now Johnson Wagner is recreating Rory McIlroy's pine straw punchout in the dark. just blocked one off a tree and into the water! on a heater this week pic.twitter.com/vKdukytrRo
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) March 15, 2024
Can’t even describe how much we love this. Let the man go recreate every awkward shot he saw earlier in the day just to show off how hard it was, and how good these guys are. If anyone knows, it’s a former player like Wagner.Â
And again, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, a foreign concept on social media. The people are demanding more Johnson Wagner:
Cackled at that first shot. Live From is electric
— Paul Hodowanic (@PaulHodowanic) March 15, 2024
Johnson has been the star of the week so far.
— Nate (@rocktober19) March 15, 2024
Johnson is single handedly growing the game. Tapped into an unmet need the golf world has no idea they need because they’re too busy dealing with agreements and OWGR arguments.
Give this man an Emmy.
— Paul Maiero (@paulmaiero) March 16, 2024
In a time where golf fans are desperate for superstars to emerge, Wagner is doing that at the Players Championship, and he’s not even playing in the tournament.Â
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This article was originally published on golfdigest.com