The Open Championship is being held at Royal Portrush and the course has already provided a memorable moment on live TV after a misplaced shot headed towards fans, who were forced to take over
The Open provided some early drama as golf analyst Johnson Wagner forced fans to dodge his wayward shot.
The major, which former Cardiff City footballer Peter Odemwingie attempted to qualify for, got underway at Royal Portrush this Thursday. Defending champion Xander Schauffele will aim to retain his title in Northern Ireland and will also hope to avoid copying golf pundit Wagner’s approach on the 16th hole.
The Golf Channel star had intended to show viewers how The Open field would deal with the tricky par three. However, the NBC broadcaster and professional golfer was left red-faced as he fired a ball into a crowd of fans live on air.
As he approached a slope, Johnson explained what he had observed during several practice rounds. “I saw Tony Finau, Jordan Spieth, Bryson DeChambeau, all three hit shots that landed in this area, just short of this little flat ridge,” he said. “This is not bad, you can see the green, you can see the flag, but we’ve seen balls come here and hit right here and they don’t stop.
“Oh gosh, this is steep and you can’t see anything. Tony Finau’s was another 10 yards down. You can’t see anything. It’s steep. Both guys that played it couldn’t get their depth perception, couldn’t pick a good target and both were about 10, 15 paces right of the hole. I mean, just such a severe upslope, all you’re trying to do here is get it on the green.”
Unfortunately for Wagner, his shot did not go to plan. He instantly realised his mistake and the crowd began shouting as the ball made its way towards them. “Oh god! I think I hit it in the grandstand,” Wagner said. “Is everybody OK?”
He raised his hand apologetically before Wagner and the camera crew began to chuckle as the embarrassment began to sink in.
“Well, of all the shots I’ve hit in my days, I think that one is probably the most embarrassing,” Wagner continued. “I finally had a crowd and I skulled it into the grandstand. I’m so sorry.”
The analyst maintained enough composure to show viewers where the players would ideally like their ball to land. However, Wagner’s mind quickly turned back to the crowd as he wrapped up his time on camera.
“I’ve got to go apologise to the crowd. I’m kind of speechless,” he said.
Addressing the fans, an apologetic Wagner added: “So sorry. Who did it come close to? Do you have it? Alright, good. I am so sorry. I was over it and I was like, ‘Please don’t skull this into the grandstand…’”
When the camera cut back to the studio, it showed Wagner’s colleagues laughing as they revelled in his misfortune. “That thing came out like a driver, like a bullet,” Paul McGinley quipped.
The Open is being held at Portrush for the first time since 2019. Ireland’s Shane Lowry won the tournament that year and it remains his only major victory.
Rory McIlroy is among the favourites to win The Open this year. He finally clinched the Masters in April to complete a career Grand Slam and finished T2 at the Scottish Open last week.