TV star sends The Open fans ducking for cover after firing wayward shot into the stands

The Open Championship witnessed some early chaos as golf analyst Johnson Wagner had fans scrambling to avoid his shot. The prestigious major teed off at Royal Portrush on Thursday.

Reigning champion Xander Schauffele is set to defend his crown in Northern Ireland. However, he will want to steer clear of emulating Wagner's mishap on the 16th, which was aired on the Golf Channel.

The 45-year-old aimed to provide viewers with on-course insight ahead of The Open after watching several top stars during their practice rounds on Wednesday. Although Wagner, who is an NBC analyst and pro golfer, was left somewhat embarrassed after launching a ball into the crowd during a TV broadcast.

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While tackling a slope, Wagner shared what he had noticed on the course: "I saw Tony Finau, Jordan Spieth, Bryson DeChambeau, all three hit shots that landed in this area, just short of this little flat ridge," he said on the Golf Channel. "This is not bad, you can see the green, you can see the flag, but we've seen balls come here and hit right here and they don't stop.

"Oh gosh, this is steep and you can't see anything. Tony Finau's was another 10 yards down. You can't see anything. It's steep. Both guys that played it couldn't get their depth perception, couldn't pick a good target and both were about 10, 15 paces right of the hole. I mean, just such a severe upslope, all you're trying to do here is get it on the green."

Regrettably for Wagner, his shot didn't go as planned. Instantly recognising his error, the crowd shouted as the ball headed their way.

"Oh god! I think I hit it in the grandstand," Wagner said. "Is everybody OK?" He raised his hand in apology and both Wagner and the camera crew began to laugh as the embarrassment set in.

"Well, of all the shots I've hit in my days, I think that one is probably the most embarrassing," Wagner admitted. "I finally had a crowd and I skulled it into the grandstand. I'm so sorry."

Despite the mishap, the analyst managed to maintain his composure enough to show viewers where players would ideally want their ball to land. However, Wagner's thoughts quickly returned to the crowd as he concluded his on-camera segment. "I've got to go apologise to the crowd. I'm kind of speechless," Wagner admitted.

Addressing the spectators, a remorseful Wagner said: "So sorry. Who did it come close to? Do you have it? Alright, good. I am so sorry. I was over it and I was like, 'Please don't skull this into the grandstand...'"

Back in the studio, Wagner's colleagues were seen laughing at his misfortune. "That thing came out like a driver, like a bullet," Paul McGinley joked.

Record crowds are expected at Portrush as The Open returns to the course for the first time since 2019. Ireland's Shane Lowry clinched the title that year, which remains his only major victory.

Rory McIlroy is among the favourites to win the major this time around. The 36-year-old finally won the Masters in April to complete a career Grand Slam and ended up T2 at the Scottish Open last week.