Julia Johnson begins a whirlwind season of dream-chasing this week on the Epson Tour at the season-opening Florida’s Natural Classic. There was a time after Johnson rewrote the record book at Ole Miss that she didn’t think professional golf was in her future. She left Oxford, Mississippi, with three degrees, including two master’s, a national team title and either tied or in sole possession of every possible individual record for Ole Miss women’s golf.
And yet, an undiagnosed health issue had her moving in another direction: broadcast television.
After Johnson reclaimed her health (more on that below), she now had two careers she wanted to pursue. So when she’s not playing golf this season, she’ll be calling golf. Sometimes perhaps in the same week, like Emilia Migliaccio did last year at the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach.
In the middle of it all, Johnson will marry her college sweetheart, though the honeymoon will be postponed until the offseason.
Golfweek caught up with Johnson ahead of the Epson Tour opener to find out more about her plans for 2024. What follows are excerpts from that conversation: