The par-3 16th at Royal Portrush, infamously dubbed as “Calamity Corner”, has long been a test of nerve and precision. On Thursday, it claimed a new victim.
NBC Golf Channel analyst and former PGA Tour pro Johnson Wagner, who was demonstrating the hole live on air, skulled a pitch shot into the grandstand, resulting in instant screams from the crowd enjoying themselves there.
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The former Tour pro was walking viewers through the treacherous right-side bailout area on Wednesday, just ahead of the Open Championship’s first round.
“Such a severe upslope,” Wagner said in a Golf Channel video posted to X, setting up his shot. “All you’re trying to do here is get it on the green.”
But as he swung, the ball rocketed off his wedge and flew into the stands.
“Oh, God,” Wagner can be heard saying in the video as the crowd reacted. “I think I hit it in the grandstand.”
He raised his hand and walked toward the startled spectators to confirm if everyone was OK, adding a “Fore!”
The moment quickly went viral, with Wagner calling it probably the most embarrassing shot in his career.
He added with a sheepish grin, “I finally had a crowd and I physically skulled it into the grandstand. So sorry.”.
“I gotta go apologize to the crowd.” 😅
Johnson Wagner provides a firsthand look at the long par 3 16th at Royal Portrush. pic.twitter.com/exO1ikdsyN
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 16, 2025
Thankfully, no one was hurt, and Wagner continued his segment with a laugh and maybe a lesson.
The blunder came just days after Scottie Scheffler, the World No. 1, joked about the difficulty of Royal Portrush.
“You can play your practice rounds and prepare, but ultimately when you step on the tee on Thursday, whatever the weather presents is going to be probably the strongest part of the test,” Scheffler said, per theopen.com.
Forecasts call for gusts up to 46 kmh during Round 1, including scattered showers throughout Thursday. Friday offers slightly calmer conditions.
Scottie Scheffler tees off Thursday at 10:09 a.m. ET alongside Shane Lowry and Collin Morikawa. Whereas Rory McIlroy, the hometown favorite, starts at 3:10 p.m. ET with Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood.
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