Johnson Wagner versus Rory McIlroy is becoming the golf beef not many had on their bingo cards for 2025.
With McIlroy so often in the media and speaking out about different issues relating to the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, the Northern Irishman is easily picked up on in terms of quotes.
Wagner, meanwhile, is a big voice in the golf media side of things and often has his say on everything golf related.
Recently, Wagner slated McIlroy in an unexpected dig, accusing the four-time major winner of looking after himself.
“The fact that he’s talking about ‘we’ve all benefitted’ – he’s just seeing things from such a finite perspective. He’s not seeing who hasn’t benefitted from all this going on, the sponsors that pay all the bills for the PGA Tour events because TV is down, everything is down, but they’re being asked to pay more money,” Wagner said.
“So, good for you. I’m glad you’re making more money than you were in ‘19 – which was a ton of money. He’s just telling everyone they’ve ‘got to get over it’. He’s said some things over the past couple of seasons that have rubbed a lot of players the wrong way.”
“And now he wants everybody to get over it. He’s pushing for a small world tour. He’s trying to get his way. I’m a huge fan of Rory, but he is angering me right now. Angering me.”
And now, Wagner has spoken out again, admitting he has had contact with McIlroy since.
Johnson Wagner admits to being emailed by Rory McIlroy
Clearly, McIlroy has heard the comments from Wagner and has wanted to have his say.
And according to Wagner, that has resulted in a bit of an exchange.
“I’m gonna say no comment on that. I have not physically spoken to him. Actually I can’t say no comment if I’m commenting. He emailed me Thursday night and we’ve traded a couple of correspondences, but I have not heard back from him since the first one,” Wagner said.
“I think his agent reached out to someone higher up at Golf Channel. And like, you know, I guess I’m – the thing I said at the end of my rant was that, ‘He’s angering me,’ and that’s the only thing that I’m sorry for. The rest of it, I stand by completely. Because I guess in this position, I need to take the emotions out of it a little better. And I’m going to try to do that going forward.”
What Johnson Wagner wants to happen to the PGA Tour
Johnson Wagner is becoming one of the more outspoken golf analysts out there and his comments on McIlroy are interesting and, clearly, have sparked a response.
However, he has been vocal on issues for the last few weeks.
Indeed, it was only last week that Wagner suggested the PGA Tour completely change tact.
“I am not trying to contradict myself. When I got mad at Rory the other day it was the player coming out in me. I am sick of the little man, journey man, being put down. So when I give you this, it is going to sound a lot like Rory, as as a media guy now this makes the most sense,” Wagner said.
“They have already made it so it is a 100 player tour and I think including the majors it should be a 25 week schedule. You can call it the FedEx Cup tour, whatever you want, poach all the best events. Then I think the Korn Ferry Tour and the smaller PGA Tour events need to merge together. Relieve some stress from these sponsors who are having to pay for $10 million purses. That secondary tour can have $5 or $4 million purses, where guys can go out and make a good living that aren’t on this greater tour.
“All other spots have something different to what golf has. They have a long off season that gives the fans time to miss it. Golf doesn’t. We miss the majors, but you can’t miss PGA Tour golf because it is constant. You basically have the month of December off and then there’s still the silly season events then. I would like to see a 25 week schedule, let’s call it 20, the Players and the majors.
“You don’t have to mandate guys to play ever week but it’s going to be those 100 guys, and maybe you have 30 fall off every year and 30 come up from the merged Korn Ferry, PGA Tour and DP World Tour. It’s got to have turnover but that’s what I see.”
Clearly, the division in golf is getting to everyone in one way or another. Wagner, like so many golf fans, it simply vying for things to be sorted and ultimately, the merger conversation to be put to bed.
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