When Brooks Koepka fired a 63 at Bethpage Black in 2019, he broke a course record that had stood since 2016. The previous record holder? A three-time PGA Tour winner whose single round of brilliance would later become both his greatest credential and his biggest regret.

Johnson Wagner knew Bethpage Black better than most. He had conquered the notorious course with a stunning 64 in the final round of the 2016 Barclays Championship. That performance tied Padraig Harrington’s existing course record. More importantly, it propelled him into the following week’s tournament. Yet despite this impressive resume at the 2025 Ryder Cup venue, Wagner won’t be part of Keegan Bradley’s team this September.

The reason traces back to a conversation that still haunts Wagner today. During a recent app

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