Tour pro shares his tip for playing golf while hungover

Johnson Wagner has enjoyed a long PGA Tour career, collecting three wins between 2008 and 2012.

Now 43 years old, Wagner has become a staple in the golf broadcast arena, working both in-studio and on the course for Golf Channel.

As this week’s Subpar guest, Wagner talked shop with his fellow player-turned-broadcaster Colt Knost and co-host Drew Stoltz, covering everything from how he got into golf TV, why his caddie goes by the nickname Pepsi, and the story behind his magnificent mustache.

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One of Wagner’s most entertaining reminiscences, though, was when he shared the story of trying to play high-level golf after — ahem — having a bit too much fun the night before.

“This was probably 10 years ago, eight years ago,” Wagner began. “It was Sunday, I’m kind of in the hunt, for top-10ish. Gambled a little bit, had a few too many beers and I felt terrible on the range that next morning. And I come out there, and there’s this short dude, doesn’t hit it anywhere, overhearing my conversation with my caddie about how terrible I was feeling. And obviously, it was you, Colt. And Colt walked over and he said, deadpan, the most serious face ever: ‘Let me give you one piece of advice: Do not sit down today.’ And you walked away. And I ended up eagling the last hole, finishing eighth.”

According to Wagner, the advice has stood the test of time.

“Still to this day, I never sit on the golf course anymore,” Wagner said. “Because if I sit, I’m toast. Even if I’m not hungover.”

For more from Wagner, including his thoughts on LIV and the PGA Tour’s schedule changes, check out the full interview below.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.