Did Johnson Wagner win the U.S. Open?
He might need.
After Bryson DeChambeau triumphed over Rory McIlroy in epic vogue at Pinehurst No. 2, Wagner, now a Golf Channel legend, determined to re-enact one of the best shot of the day: DeChambeau’s third from the sand on 18.
During the event, DeChambeau confronted a 55-yard shot from the bunker, a frightening shot usually considered essentially the most troublesome in skilled golf. DeChambeau proceeded to execute it completely with a 55-degree wedge, stuffing his approach to 4 toes. He then made the putt for par, thus clinching his second U.S. Open title.
About two hours later, after DeChambeau paraded round Pinehurst No. 2, embracing all of the followers, Wagner picked that shot for his well-known demonstration.
Mind you, Wagner has grow to be a golf movie star in latest months merely due to these brief segments. Since The Players Championship in March, Wagner, on dwell tv, has: hummed balls into the aspect of a hill, roped a punch shot off a tree, climbed into the woods to asses a Xander Schauffele ruling, twice bought the yips on air, after which, this week, he walked by why Tony Finau and Ludvig Åberg collapsed on the thirteenth gap.
But nothing might high what he did on Sunday.
After rocketing an try over the inexperienced, DeChambeau pulled as much as the spot the place he performed his now-famous shot and embraced Wagner. Then, DeChambeau advised Wagner to hit one other one, with the champion as a witness. He additionally supplied some perception on how one can play the shot.
With a 50-degree wedge in hand, Wagner hit a perfect chunk and run. His ball landed on the inexperienced and rolled in the direction of the cup, simply as DeChambeau’s did in regulation.
But Wagner’s ball stopped even nearer than DeChambeau’s, which elicited a large celebration from the now-reigning U.S. Open champion and Golf Channel’s latest, and now, largest star.
Considering Wagner’s trials and tribulations on dwell tv this 12 months, he celebrated this shot with authority. DeChambeau even handed him the trophy, which Wagner jokingly accepted with an enormous smile on his face.
Live From the U.S. Open has at all times been the go-to present for golf followers earlier than, throughout, and after main championships, however Wagner’s presence has made that much more so.
So congratulations on successful the 124th U.S. Open, Johnson Wagner. You deserve it.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be certain to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.
