Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Bubba’s not the Basket case he is made out to be
BUBBA WATSON ended the West Coast Swing with tears of joy and renewed hope for the future.
The former World No2’s win at the Genesis Open was a bolt from the blue – but further proof he can be a genuine force again.
Prior to California, Watson had endured two winless years and this time last year he feared his career was over.
It took some straight talking from his wife to ward off early retirement.
Stop whining and count your blessings was the thrust of the marital message.
It was great to see Bubba return to the winner’s enclosure after a humbling period where he was overlooked for the 2016 Ryder Cup and had to plead to be involved as a vice captain.
If his emotional, maverick temperament raise eyebrows off the course, on it he was struggling after making the crazy decision to change golf balls.
The most important piece of equipment in your bag is a decent ball and Watson’s move away from Titleist to sign up with Volvik – and chase soft cash – backfired badly.
He returned to Titleist in November and it’s probably no coincidence his game now looks to be trending in the right direction.
His world ranking too. Between March 2016 and earlier this month, he had fallen from fourth to 117th. His win in California saw him climb back up to 40th.
Ball selection aside, Bubba deserves credit for sticking to his natural game and not falling prey to the modern trend of tinkering with the mechanics of his swing.
He had simply lost his mojo but now he looks to be back on track after recording his 10th PGA Tour win at the Genesis.
On the near horizon, he also has the added incentive of chasing down a third Masters title. Only eight other golfers have worn the Green Jacket three times, so it’s a huge incentive at Augusta in April.
Bubba is unique and does things his own way.
So much so, he played in a celebrity basketball game last Friday night.
Can you imagine the media clamour if Rory did that in the middle of a tournament?
Unlike other pro players, Watson has never had a coach or team around him and that means he benefits from being his own boss and having a clear mind.
The unpredictable side of his personality will continue to be a barrier, but from a golfing perspective, he remains a breath of fresh air.
He plays quickly and instinctively and he entertains the galleries.
The modern game is crying out for characters and Bubba definitely falls into that category.
It is great to have him back.