ELMSFORD, N.Y. (April 17, 2008) – The 2008 Masters will be remembered by golf fans for many things: the surprise victory by Trevor Immelman, the struggles of Tiger Woods on the greens, and the unbridled enthusiasm of Johnson Wagner. After winning his first PGA Tour event at the Shell Houston Open a week before, the victory propelled Wagner to being the last player to qualify for the Masters, rewarding him with a trip down Magnolia Lane. In every interview, including a 20-minute session in the main press room on Monday of Masters week, Wagner smiled and spoke of how qualifying for his first Masters in such dramatic fashion gave him the thrill of a lifetime.

Once play started, Wagner focused and got down to business. Wagner shot rounds of 72-74 to make the cut, and went on to finish tied for 36th. With the win and now a Masters under his belt, Wagner has elevated himself from virtual unknown to PGA Tour mainstay, and can now pick and choose which tournaments he wants to enter. The former Garrison, N.Y., resident recalls his days playing in MGA championships and how he relies on that same work ethic today in PGA events.

“With those wins starting my professional career and ending my amateur career, it gave me a lot of confidence going on Tour. When I won my two Nationwide Tour events last year, I pulled on those accomplishments, and I did the same thing in Houston two weeks ago.”

In regards to playing in his first Masters, Wagner says: “It was a dream come true to be there and have all my family watching me. It was Sunday before I knew it, and it happened so fast. Obviously the first two days I played the back nine extremely well, so that gave me a lot of confidence that I belong. I got off to a bad start and was able to come back. I’m looking forward to taking that experience to the next three majors of the year and the rest of my career.”

Wagner is not in the field this week at the Verizon Heritage, but you can continue to follow his exciting season online at www.mgagolf.org.