Johnson Wagner has offered a lighthearted apology after drawing a comparison between Scottie Scheffler and the PGA Tour’s latest winner, Jacob Bridgeman.
Jacob Bridgeman capped off the West Coast Swing by claiming victory at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera. Despite the added pressure of playing alongside Rory McIlroy, he managed to stay composed for most of Sunday’s round.
Bridgeman now leads the FedEx Cup having finished in the top 20 in all five of his starts this season. He has ended both of the signature events so far on 18 under par.
Jacob Bridgeman compared to Scottie Scheffler after his Genesis Invitational win
Speaking on CBS Sports, Johnson Wagner picked out Bridgeman as the biggest surprise from the opening weeks of the season.
He also went on to talk about what he sees in Bridgeman that reminds him of Scottie Scheffler.
“For him this year, it was after Memphis when the greens were so firm that he decided, knowing that he was going to be in all the major championships, he needed to get a spinnier golf ball to be able to compete on the firm greens and the toughest conditions. For him to make the changes that he’s making, getting in the gym, getting with Scott Hamilton and working as hard as he has to get there, I don’t think we’re going to see Jacob Bridgeman go anywhere.
“He’s almost got, and I’m sorry I’m going to do this, but he’s almost got the Scottie Scheffler work ethic where he is going to leave no stone unturned and he’s going to get every single thing out of his game.”
Jacob Bridgeman has areas to build on despite his hot start to the season
Bridgeman’s challenge now is to keep building momentum. The PGA Tour doesn’t slow down for anyone, and staying sharp will be key if he wants to stay in the mix.
His approach play has stood out early this season, but there’s room for growth with his driving if he wants to push into the sport’s upper tier.
This season, Bridgeman sits 67th in driving distance and 89th in accuracy. Those numbers aren’t far off the tour average but highlight an area where gains could be made.
While his short game still has some catching up to do, the strides he’s made with his irons are clear.
If his reputation for hard work holds true, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more progress soon.
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