The Golf Watch

"If we really had a tournament with the top 30 players, I’m not here"

I have been saving this Bubba Watson quote from the Atlanta Journal Constitution for the right moment, and this seems to be as good a time as ever.  My theory is that if you have a player like Bubba who is inside the top-30 calling the points system flawed, then the PGA Tour has some major fixing to do over the offseason.  Here's the quote, courtesy of of Jeff Schultz from the AJC:

I’m here and it’s not right. If we really had a tournament with the top 30 players, I’m not here. I’ve never won a tournament in my life. I’m 97th in the world. I’ll take the checks and if they say, ‘You can go to the Masters,’ I’ll go. But nobody in the world would say I’m top 30.

Watson shows a softer side

For the second time in a little over a year, Bubbba Watson got emotional on camera. The first time was during a press conference in promotion of Bubba Golf.  The topic of his upbringing came up, and Watson could hardly get a word out.

This time, it was during an interview at this past week's BMW with Steve Sands (aired on Monday's Golf Central).  Although the question can't be heard, I'm assuming Sands asked Watson what it would mean for him to win on tour. Watson said:

It's something we strive to do.  I haven't won yet, I want to win.  The media talks about winning.  But, for me, making the kind of money I'm making, supporting my wife (choking up)...it's a step in the right direction.

The first thing that comes to mind is Brandt Snedeker's Sunday press conference at this year's Masters.  Seeing players like Watson and Brandt Snedeker express this kind of passion for the game is reassuring on so many levels.    

We're all Bubba fans today

For all of the golfers out there who don't take golf lessons and enjoy buying polo shirts for less than $20, win this one for us.  We're all Bubba fans today.

I think Bubba Watson's chances of winning today at the Buick Open are as good as ever.  He will be playing from behind, which takes some of the pressure off, and he has two driveable par-4's that are definite birdie holes on the back side.

Here's to an exciting final round.

Woods and Mickelson grouped together, but Watson and Holmes is my choice

When I read that Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Adam Scott would be playing together next week at Torrey Pines, I thought, 'what a great idea.'  The networks and the fans will be happy.  Plus, ESPN's Chris Berman will have a field day with the threesome, so get ready for plenty of new sayings you would never want to add to your repertoire with your Sunday group.

Even though it will be a fun threesome, the group that excites me the most is the longhitters group of Bubba Watson, J.B. Holmes, and Brett Wetterich.  While none of them show much emotion on the course, you know they will be hitting the big stick a ton.  The kid scorer assigned to the group will be kept busy.

Watson works the ball more than anyone else in history?

During NBC's third round telecast of the Shell Houston Open, Johnny Miller made a pretty bold statement about Bubba Watson's shotmaking...

I’ll tell you what, I’m serious, he works the ball more than any professional in the history of the game.  Biggest hooks and slices, he never hits it straight.

This video from Peter Kostis at last year's Zurich Classic helps break it down.

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Watson apologizes for on-air comments about Elkington, Maruyama

If you were watching the Zurich Classic yesterday at 4:02 p.m. EST, and heard Bubba Watson say on the 10th hole, "veterans can kiss my ass"--you weren't wrong.  Watson was referring to playing partners Steve Elkington and Shigeki Maruyama, who were apparently walking to the green while Watson was about to hit.  Thanks to fellow blogger Geoff Shackelford for posting the video. 

The best part is Roger Maltbie's comment after the fact...

Fortunately, Watson apologized for the incident in a PGATour.com release.  Watson said:

I was already mad for the day and I just took it out on them and I shouldn't have. I want to apologize to everyone in the tournament, whoever heard it, whoever saw it and especially to Steve and Shigeki and their caddies.

Watson calls a penalty on himself, disqualified from John Deere

Bubba Watson has just been disqualified from the John Deere Classic, after calling a penalty on himself.  Kelly Tilghman of The Golf Channel reports, "He bent one of his clubs during the course of play and then used it later.  That is considered a non-conforming club once it has left its original shape."  It was unlikely that Watson would have made the cut -- he was 4-over-par overall after 13 holes.  "And he did the right thing, called it on himself, and off he goes," said Tilghman. 

Watson starts new, affordable clothing line

Bubba Watson, a rising star who is quickly becoming one of the more popular players on tour, has started his own clothing line called bubbagolf.  Lauren Deason of PGATour.com writes that the clothing line offers "over 30 pieces of clothing, including polos, windshirts, pants and shorts, which will all sell for less than $14.98."  Watson is leading the tour in driving distance and has five top-10 finishes this year. 

Watson and Dougherty qualify for '08 US Open, Masters

Bubba Watson (T-5) and Nick Dougherty (T-7) both finished in the top-15 at the 2007 US Open, and have qualified for the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines.  According to the Associated Press, Watson said after his round, "If you'd told me my second major, tied for fifth, I'd have taken that and gone back to the house and watched it on TV." In addition, since both players finished in the top-8, Watson and Dougherty have also qualified for the 2008 Masters, where they will make their first appearances.  "I've never felt like this coming off the course before, but I'm actually delighted," said Dougherty. 

Plaschke: I'm rooting for Bubba

Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times writes, "Today I am cheering for Bubba Watson to steal the U.S. Open golf trophy away from manufactured greatness and highbrow pretension, bringing it to America's country-fried links."  Watson, who claims never to have had a formal golf lesson or a swing coach, is at 5-over overall, only three strokes behind Aaron Baddeley heading into Sunday.  The 28-year-old would be the first lefty to win the U.S. Open.