OverDrive - Wagner on McIlroy's playoff win at the Players Championship, Scheffler's season stance and Conners' solid tournaments

Episode Date: March 17, 2025

NBC Sports Golf Analyst Johnson Wagner joined OverDrive to discuss the headlines around the PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy's impressive playoff victory at the Players Championship, his strength during the season, Scottie Scheffler's skill set on the course, Corey Conners' solid run and more.

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You know we're having some conversation about tying your shoe on a urinal. I'd like to weigh in on that dude Tell me it's okay. Tell us right now. Is it okay? I? Absolutely think that is the most disgusting What's wrong with your head to think that that's okay well great question Johnson I think you're my kind of guy dude we've locked eyes we were guys guys if you're just putting your foot up there with a shoe on and tying your shoe there's no harm no foul you're not going into an area that's gonna affect anything in your life, man. Come on.

Agree to disagree on that one. This is by Johnson Wagner. He knows what he's talking about here, man. This guy, he's a reasonable human being because O supports that play. We had a poll up online. I'd say about one in five support that play. So you got to understand that, Johnson Johnson like every fifth person you meet in life they are a tie your shoe on a urinal guy so keep that in mind as you move forward they're probably not washing their hands when they come out of that bathroom either no chance no no chance we have a theory on this show that the playoff ended this morning when McElroy hit his first t-shot on 16 that he hit that so perfectly JJ spawn in my opinion looked at that and said I just got to get this off the tee and out there somewhere to keep up

With this guy and he was chasing him right off the hop Do you think it could have been different this morning if spawn got the honor and possibly hit his tee ball first? Yeah, I mean I think when McElroy had the honor, he certainly set the tone of the playoff and basically said to JJ without saying it, you know, come and get me because I'm here. It was impressive. It was chilly. It was cold this morning out there and that was an absolute beast of a drive that he hit. What do you think happened on 17?

There was visual of JJ looking in Rory's bag and he saw that the nine iron was in his hands. Is that a simple case of Spahn saying one of the best players in the world just grabbed the nine iron, I got to grab an eight and he just flew it over the green? Is that what happened there? Yeah, I mean I talked to Rory about it. He you know he took a lot of speed off of that nine iron. I said he was trying to hit a 147 shot and I think Rory generally hits his nine iron like 160 plus range and so JJ I think JJ hit the right club. I just think he caught the wrong wind gust Yeah, cuz he was floored man. Like he couldn't he was asking where the golf was used Yeah, and I mean you you mentioned it Johnson like the golf ball was. Yeah. And I mean, you, you mentioned it Johnson,

like the wind, like how serious is the wind though, to hit an eight iron on that hole? Like that's, that's kind of crazy. When he pulled that eight iron, I couldn't believe, I was not surprised he hit it in the water, I guess is the best way to put it. It was a, it was 131 yards and I actually went out and hit that shot a couple hours later, hit an

eight iron and I came up short of the green. I just think it depended on the type of gust you got and he got a bad one. Yeah, we're watching you right now. You're out there with McElroy, which is really incredible. We talked to you after the US Open when Bryson went out there with you And you guys hit that sand shot like this is how cool is this Johnson like you're a guy You're you're a tour pro you've won on tour Obviously the players have a lot of respect for you But the idea that Rory sticks around afterwards and goes back to 17 t to hit golf balls with you

How incredible was that experience? It was amazing and and Rory and bring up that a good relationship and i i basically have our our uh... one of our ladies at the golf channel who's kind of in charge of uh... getting players and stuff i think that they if there's any chance when he comes to the set is there any way that that you can ask him from me to come out and and and you know caddy for me while i hit his shot and uh... he said yes and I was just unbelievably

honored and surprised that he came out and it just says a lot about the kind of person he is. Do you think he might be favored going into the Masters, Johnson? I think that, you know, I think that putt was big for him on Sunday to go in, to see that putt go in because it just got in the right side and for him to have two big wins like going into the Masters, I have no idea why he hasn't had success there in the right side. And for him to have two big wins, like going into the Masters, I have no idea why he hasn't had success there in the past. But do you think he could be the favorite over Scottie?

I do currently. I mean, I think both of them are intending to play the Houston Open here in a couple of weeks. And unless Scottie goes out and takes him down in the final group Sunday, yeah, I think the momentum's with Rory. I think he will be the favorite. With Johnson Wagner, yeah, in terms of Scheffler, you know, he's in the hunt to an extent. He's played

pretty well the last two weeks. He won these two tournaments the last year and at that point it was like he's gone. And then won the Masters, he won at Memorial, he won at Harbert Town. It was like he couldn't slow this guy down. Something's not the same though this year is it the surgery is at the late start What what is your theory on what's up with Sheffler? Yeah, I mean Scottie's a you know He's a creature of habit and he works his his tail off in the offseason to get better and prepare and he had I think It was three four weeks where he couldn't really touch a club and I think I think he's gonna be fine I'm not worried about Sheffler. It's just taking him a little bit longer to get into the winning ways. Yeah it's

interesting. I guess he was just such a beast last year that it set a tone that almost impossible to replicate right? Like he had nine wins last year. Basically every elevated event Scheffler won it. What makes you think about Tiger? Tiger did that every year. Yeah that's true true I think we're still in for a big Scottie year I mean if I if I had to guess right now I'd give him I'd give him four wins including a major championship this year and I think that be a heck of a year obviously yeah it sure would with Johnson Wagner let me ask you before we let you go about Corey Connors two really good weeks t5 last

week at Bay Hill top 10 this week plays Augusta really really well like what does he have to do in your opinion in your opinion to get over the top like to go low on Sunday and find a way to win one of these I think it comes down with to the putter with Corey I mean the way he played Sunday at Bay Hill I mean he made 15 straight pars before finally getting that birdie on 16 and it's with the putter Specifically, I think he runs out of pace I think he's a little bit afraid of running a by and having that three four footer So I'd like to see him get better from the close range

Give a little more speed on those putts into where he can you know start it start? Running away with golf tournaments. If he can just hold a few more of those 10 to 15 foot range putts. Johnson, when you're in Jacksonville, did you get to the Bonefish Grill down there on A1A or where did you hang out? Yeah, I was busy. I was on the early show and the late show. So I was hanging out at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel bar okay well you got to get McGinley and Brandel out there they like you hit

those two chip shots they were groove back perfect man there they cannot be chirping you anymore you got to get them out there and tell them to start hitting some shots yeah that's the plan I'm gonna I'm definitely gonna make that I try to make that happen to the PGA championship at Quail Hollow my hometown I'll work on getting them out for one night and see what they got out there. Okay good luck man I know it's been a busy one especially going back to work this morning we appreciate you doing this and we'll catch up again down the road. I look forward to it you You guys are the best.

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