Johnson Wagner goes from alternate to 1-under 71 at Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard

ORLANDO – First alternate Johnson Wagner wasn’t sure what the day held for him as he drove to Bay Hill Club & Lodge in the dark Thursday morning. He was in his car when the phone rang. PGA TOUR Rules Official Brad Fabel told him Davis Love III had withdrawn with a sore neck, and Wagner would get his spot if he could make a 7:20 tee time. He not only made it, he shot a 1-under 71. “I was just going to come in and wait on the tee,� said Wagner, 38, a three-time TOUR winner who has limited status this season. “My plan was to be on the range warming up at 6:30, before the first tee time at 6:45. If someone couldn’t go I was going to be available.� Wagner was fifth alternate at the entry deadline, but he already had to be in Orlando for a PGA TOUR Policy Board meeting on Monday. By then he’d moved up some, and he ascended all the way to first alternate when Talor Gooch withdrew Wednesday morning. He would have been crazy not to stick around. Playing with Daniel Berger (77) and Chesson Hadley (71) on Thursday, he tied for low man in the group. “I haven’t played here since 2013,� said Wagner, who missed the cut at The Honda Classic but finished T2 at the Puerto Rico Open before that. “I’ve always loved this place. I finished (tied for) 4th in 2012. “I got in 21 events last year and I’ll play 20 events, at least, this year,� he added. “I should’ve won in Puerto Rico. I was tied for the lead with two to play and hit a wedge into 17 and came up short and made bogey, and didn’t birdie 18. But my confidence is high, and I’m going to tear it up when I get in this year.� Wagner said he’d twice been first alternate on a Thursday, once in 2010 and once in 2015, but didn’t get in either time. He was certainly ready this time around, with the late, great Palmer’s trademark umbrella logo pinned to his hat and embroidered on his staff bag. “If I can go out there and rip it up tomorrow,� Wagner said, “get in contention, that would be a good story: first alternate to winner.�

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