Johnson Wagner roasts Brooks Koepka after painful three-putt at Torrey Pines

Brooks Koepka’s long-awaited return to the PGA Tour was always likely to generate headlines. After four years away and a brief but high-profile spell with LIV Golf, the five-time major champion was officially reinstated last month and teed it up at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. 

What probably wasn’t on the script, however, was becoming the punchline of one of the weekend’s most entertaining moments.

Saturday marked Johnson Wagner’s first appearance on CBS since making the move from Golf Channel, and the three-time PGA Tour winner wasted no time reminding viewers exactly why he was hired. 

Wagner has built a reputation for recreating shots hit by players moments earlier — usually with a mix of insight, self-awareness and comedy — and Torrey Pines provided the perfect stage for another memorable attempt.

Koepka’s third round had already been anything but steady. Starting on the back nine, his card featured a little bit of everything: three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey before he even reached the par-4 first on the South Course. That hole delivered the most eye-catching moment of his day.

After driving left, Koepka’s ball came to rest on the cart path. Rather than take relief into thick rough, he opted for the bold play, striking the ball cleanly off concrete and sending it bounding onto the green to around 11 feet. It was a brilliant piece of shot-making — the kind of moment that hinted at why Koepka’s return still carries so much intrigue.

Then came the letdown.

Koepka missed the birdie putt, and worse followed. A three-foot comebacker slid by, turning a potential highlight into a deflating bogey and a three-putt that summed up the uneven nature of his comeback week.

That’s when Wagner stepped in.

Handed a 7-iron and standing on the same cart path, Wagner explained the challenge before taking his swing live on air. “The key to hitting off the cart path is not flinching at the bottom,” he said — just before proving how hard that is by pulling his own effort into the rough.

“Not very good,” Wagner admitted, as laughter followed from the booth.

But Wagner wasn’t done. Before anyone else could poke fun at his miss, he delivered the line of the day: “If I had hit it on the green, though, I wouldn’t have three-putted.”

The timing was perfect. Jim Nantz played along, the booth cracked up, and Wagner instantly justified CBS’s decision to give him a bigger platform.

Here was Koepka's shot:

Now watch Wagner's response: 

For Koepka, it was another reminder that sharp edges still remain as he works his way back into PGA Tour competition. 

For viewers, it was proof that Wagner’s brand of analysis — part insight, part entertainment — is exactly the kind of television golf needs more of.

Koepka signed for a Saturday 73 to slip back to 2-under par and 19 shots off the pace set by Justin Rose, who takes a commanding six-shot lead into the final round at Torrey Pines.

Rose is seeking a second career win at the Farmers Insurance Open having won in 2019, and a 13th career title on the PGA Tour.