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Virginia Tech Flashback Friday: Johnson Wagner

By Justin Cates

Jan 27, 2017; La Jolla, CA, USA; Johnson Wagner lines up a putt during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course - North Co. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2017; La Jolla, CA, USA; Johnson Wagner lines up a putt during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course - North Co. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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If you follow the PGA Tour even casually, you know Johnson Wagner.

The 37-year-old has become known as a really solid player. He’s also something of a fan favorite if for no reason other than his fantastic sense of humor, personified by a hilarious mustache that sometimes makes an appearance.

He also has a rather entertaining Twitter presence if you’re into that sort of thing. It features plenty of love for his alma mater.

On the course, Wagner was part of Virginia Tech’s successful men’s golf program. During his time at Tech, the Hokies competed in the Atlantic 10 and Big East conferences.

Wagner was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year in 1999 and also earned an all-conference selection that season.

In 2001, he was chosen as a member of the All-Big East Conference team after finishing tied for seventh at the conference championship.

Wagner helped the team win the 2002 Big East Championship thanks to his stellar performance as individual medalist. That same season, he earned third team All-America honors and was a first team all-state pick.

Fellow PGA veteran Brendon De Jonge teamed with Wagner to make their time at Tech one of the most successful periods in program history. This included consecutive appearances in the finals of the NCAA Championships in 2001 and 2002.

Johnson began his professional career on the Nationwide Tour where he won twice. In 2007 he finished third on the Nationwide money list and earned his PGA Tour card. As a rookie, he won the 2008 Shell Houston Open and appeared to be a rising star.

It wasn’t quite that easy, however, as he detailed in this video from the PGA Tour.

Johnson won the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun in 2011 and followed that up with a win in the 2012 Sony Open in Hawaii.

In 2015, he nearly won the Shell Houston Open again while battling some major emotions. He made a 25-foot putt on the 72nd hole of competition and while he outlasted Jordan Speith in a playoff, Wagner lost one the second hole of sudden-death to J.B. Holmes.

Wagner’s wife Katie was a Virginia Tech athlete as well. She played for the women’s soccer team and the two married in 2006.