Bubba Watson: Golf’s Goofy Man of Faith

 All elite athletes have the intangible “it” that just, well, get it done. Michael Jordan had the killer instinct and wouldn’t even let a fever get in the way of winning. Muhammad Ali had the intimidation factor. He’d had already beat his opponent before they stepped into the ring. Tiger Woods had the best swing in golf and just dominated.

Then there’s Bubba Watson. Um, he’s the complete antithesis of all the aforementioned. He doesn’t have that killer instinct. Nope, he doesn’t really intimidate. And lets just say his swing isn’t picture perfect.

But, boy, he sure does have “it.” He can charm you from the first tee all the way to the clubhouse. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is never afraid to tell you what he thinks about a shot. With such impetuous expressions on the golf course, a life of humility and humor is what Bubba Watson is all about.

The southern southpaw grew up in Bagdad, Florida, a tiny town just north of Pensacola. Named after his father, Gerry Sr. nicknamed his talented son after pro football player Bubba Smith. The name stuck and his pudgy look fit the nickname perfectly.

At the age of six, his father gave him a cut down 9-iron and he whacked wiffle-balls around the house. No reported lamps were broken in making of this superstar. Most kids who learned the game at such a young age usually employed swing coaches to develop them into elite golfers.

Not Bubba.

His father, Gerry, was the only one to give Bubba a “formal” golf lesson. Bubba took it from there and didn’t look back. A standout pitcher during high school, Bubba chose to play the smaller white ball with dimples on it rather than a stitched up ball. Receiving a golf scholarship to the University of Georgia, Bubba helped the Bulldogs to an SEC golf title in 2000. Leaving school a year early, Bubba turned professional in 2001 and took his quirky, self-made swing on tour.

Showcasing his enormous length off the tee, Watson led the tour in driving distance year after year. Cutting his teeth on the developmental tour, Watson finally earned his PGA Tour card and played his first full season in 2006. While finding success during his first two years on tour, Watson realized he was becoming a role model and knew he needed to set examples for the kids that looked up to him.

Since he left college early for golf, he left some unfinished business at Georgia. In 2008, without telling his friends and family, he enrolled back at Georgia and finished up his degree. For a guy with a homemade swing and no formal golf lessons, Bubba Watson was finally coming into his own skin.

Or was he?

Struggling with anger issues, Watson let his temper get the best of him on the course at times and his performance showed. Complaining and cursing his way around the course gave him a reputation he was not proud of. Not only did it affect his golf game, it affected his personal life. Watson’s caddy and wife decided something needed to be done.

Needing an intervention to capture Bubba’s attention, Watson’s caddy, Ted Scott, and wife Angie, expressed their distaste for Bubba’s actions. Teddy, as Bubba affectionately calls him, was going to quit. After much soul-searching, Bubba decided his life was too good to just throw away because of a bad temper. He shut, put up, and showed up on the PGA tour in a big way.

2010 proved to be a breakout year for Bubba. There was also heartbreak. Shortly after winning his first PGA Tour event at The Travelers Championship in June, Bubba’s father passed away from throat cancer. A strong Christian man, Bubba used his infectious and jocular personality to grieve.

Involved in many charities, Bubba and his buddies formed their own boy band to give back. Comprised of PGA players, Rickie Fowler, Ben Crane, and Hunter Mahan, Bubba and his boys made quite the ridiculous video and pop song poking fun at Hollywood music. Don’t worry Justin Bieber; your Grammy won’t be in jeopardy.

From music to fashion, Bubba keeps it real. An ambassador for high-end clothing company Travis Mathew, Bubba’s sense of style is flashy, yet powerful. I mean, the dude has an all pink driver, wears a $500,000 Richard Mille watch on his wrist, and is the proud owner of the original General Lee from the Dukes of Hazard. Who wouldn’t love this guy?

Americans fell in love with Bubba even more with his win in the 2012 Masters when he hit one of the toughest, craziest shots you’ll ever see in competitive golf. “Just a 40-yard hook with a 52 degree wedge,” said Watson. Sure, like it’s the same as a tap in for par!

When Bubba isn’t busy bombing 300-yard drives and shot-shaping his way around the course, you’ll find him busy tweeting and spending quality family time with his wife, Angie and their newly adopted son, Caleb. During the holidays, Bubba has his own version of the twelve days of Christmas. Affectionately calling himself Bubba Claus, Watson reaches out to his fans by holding daily contests asking fans to do their best trick shot, sing their favorite Christmas tune, or even dress up like, well, him.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”

Bubba Watson is the real thing.

The Heart Of Golf

What is it about this game?

What brings you to the course?

Why do you practice?

Why do you hit fifty, three-foot putts over and over? Is it the possibility of making your first birdie? Your first eagle? Or maybe it’s the day where lighting strikes and you get a hole in one. Maybe it’s for the camaraderie of getting the guys or gals together for the weekend. Maybe it’s the social atmosphere of being outside and meeting new people on the first tee. Maybe it’s the chance of breaking your own course record. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s for the simple chance at making that perfect swing.

Or maybe it’s because of the struggle we go through. The struggle to get better and most importantly, get through the struggle. Golf isn’t easy. This game doesn’t owe anyone, anything. We have to go out and get it. We have to spend hours on the range until our hands bleed. We have to spend that last hour on the range sharpening our short game.

For these said reasons, and reasons unknown, golfers from all over the world, embark on their own journey and experience their own struggle. That, my friends, truly is the heart of golf. It’s finding that love in your heart to get better, play harder, and compete at your highest level. It’s where you love the game so much you miss the feeling of struggling through a round, knowing tomorrow is going to be better. And you’re going to be better.

This game can bring us to our knees just as easy as it will bring us to the course at 5:00am. The first four holes can be magnificent and on the fifth tee box, a 7.8 earthquake hits your brain and for some odd reason, you shank it into the woods. You can’t figure it out. You look incredulously at your buddy and he just shrugs his shoulders. See,  he’s worrying about his own game. And the fact that he just saw you shank it, his brain is now flustered and hoping the San Andreas fault doesn’t crack.

But it does crack.

It happens to us all. Even the touring professionals. Take Rory McIlroy for instance. The kid, yes kid, dominated once again in a major. A year removed from his record-breaking performance at Congressional, McIlroy brought The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island to its bloodied knees. But wait, wasn’t McIlroy in a so-called “slump” earlier in the year? After holding off a charging Tiger Woods, and stoically winning the Honda Classic, McIlroy struggled with his game.

After a disappointing T40 at The Masters, McIlroy’s performance didn’t get any better. A missed cut at The PLAYERS Championship and another missed cut the following week at The Memorial, the golf world gasped and grabbed their inhalers needing more air. Rory followed those odious outings with yet another missed cut. This time, at The U.S. Open. What on earth could possibly be wrong with Rory? All the talking heads speculated until they all agreed to disagree on what was causing his bad play. Ahem, I will suggest with just one word what was “wrong” with Rory: golf.

Last I checked, golf is tough.  It’s really tough to be good for a long period of time. Fields are too deep with talent. I think we use the word ‘slump’ too often when golfers aren’t playing well. Golf happens. McIlroy, poised to win his first major, led the 2011 Masters stepping onto the tenth tee box. And then, golf happened. We all know how that horror story finished. But it turned out to be the best thing that happened to McIlroy. Two months later, he shut up the golf world and stomped the field at Congressional.

On Sunday afternoon, on a sunny and otherwise calm day at Kiawah Island, we saw a young man confidently walk down the fairways and calmly roll in putt after putt. We saw a player who was deemed to be in a slump, play like nobody could beat him. We saw the resolve of a champion brush off his struggle and turn them into a consummation. With a 25 foot birdie on 18, Rory McIlroy made history, yet again, at major championship.

The heart of golf isn’t hard to find. Rory found it. Are you next?

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

Who’s The New Guy?

Are you a rookie?

We are all rookies at some point. In life, and in sports. That’s what makes this crazy game we call golf, so relatable to life. Everybody has to start somewhere. We have all whiffed at the ball. We all have whiffed in life. The dreaded shank has happened, and of course, the ubiquitous slice. That baby isn’t going anywhere. Why do you think there are so many PGA Golf Professionals?  They struggled with it once. Now it’s their turn to help you not hit that ugly, always frustrating, stupid slice.

Being a rookie is a good thing. You get to learn things about yourself and the game that you might not have learned otherwise. Every year, the PGA Tour grants tour cards to twenty-five competent and amenable players from the Nationwide Tour. You have a mixed bag of grizzled veterans trying to find their game again, and the precocious yet ferocious college star players. The PGA Tour Q-School also has a list of graduates whose canvases are yet to be painted. All waiting to tee it up, these guys are hoping and praying their dreams become reality. Here’s the reality of it: it’s really tough out there. In recent years, with the exception of Keegan Bradley and Rickie Fowler, most rookies have found water hazards, out-of-bounds stakes, and missed cuts.

Here are a few facts about the rookies on the PGA Tour 2012:

Total number of rookies: 26

Rookies age 22 & under: 5

Rookies age 20-29: 18

Rookies age 30-39: 7

Rookies age 40 & over: 1

Rookies with no PGA Tour experience: 8

Rookies with a PGA Tour win: 1(John Huh)

You may be wondering why I’m talking about rookies during the middle of the year. Well, golf has become so unpredictable this year. A lot of new names and faces are making their ways onto television screens and leader boards. I figured I’d keep you on your toes and be a little unpredictable myself. Jason Dufner and Hunter Mahan are the only multiple winners on tour this year. Yes, Tiger and Phil each had their early season win, but have been missing on leader boards and unseen during network coverage. We all know about Tiger’s struggles, but it is different not seeing Phillip around on weekends. This year on tour we have seen Kyle Stanley make a snowman on the 72nd hole of a tournament, lose in a playoff to beady-eyed Brandt Snedeker, then win the next week in Phoenix.

Again, unpredictable. Some even say, unbelievable.

Tiger dominated from 2000-2008. Today, we don’t really have a clear-cut “No. 1” player in the world. Explaining the Official World Golf Ranking system would be like Einstein explaining his thought process on general relativity. Donald and McIlroy have been going back and forth the past few weeks exchanging the top spot between them. But we don’t really know who the number one player in the world is at the moment. That’s the thing, it’s just a number. Now who’s the best player in the world? I’m open up for discussions on that one. Fields nowadays are so deep with talent, that anyone in the field can win. These guys are that good! And that’s what makes golf so attractive.

Sure, it was neat seeing Tiger dominate the sport the way he did. I don’t think we’ll see that again in golf for a very long time. But we will. We had Jack, then Arnie, and then Tiger. Will it be McIlroy? Only time will tell. I know, very cliché of me.

But I digress.

Rookies must spend their exemptions wisely. Depending on where they finished in Q-School or their order of merit on the Nationwide Tour money list, players must play well early and often to keep getting into tournaments. Just like beginning a new job, its good to make a few birdies before those bogies come in and you screw up those TPS reports.

If  you’re a rookie at golf and are a little afraid of all those ringers and “A” players in scrambles, I encourage you to step out of  your comfort zone and step onto the links. I promise you that you’ll feel every emotion known to man. And that’s just during the first nine holes. It just gets better from there, my friend. It’s summer all the time here in San Diego. Make your way down to your local JC golf course and let our PGA and assistant pros do all the work.

Remember, we were once rookies, too.

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

Side note: If you’re out at Golfer’s Gone Wild at Twin Oaks this Friday, make sure to stop me and say hello. I’ll be the journalist-looking guy wearing all pink. WEAR YOUR PINK!!

The Golf Boys; Players Championship & Golfers Gone Wild

It very well could be the year of the “stache.” Or dudes exhibiting facial hair, for that matter. Johnson Wagner started it with his Magnum P.I. mustache for the ages. I think Tom Selleck himself felt threatened. But let’s be honest, no one will ever touch that mustache. But I digress. Rickie Fowler’s mustache, which I’m sure has been growing for at least a year, has finally come to life. All kidding aside, his game finally has come to fruition. I guess the Golf Boys gained some karma from the golf gods with their instant hit, “Oh Oh Oh.”

Since releasing their self-deprecating, unpretentious, but somewhat dignified single, the Golf Boys have won a combined five times since last summer. Yep, all four members of the group have won starting with Ben Crane winning the McGladry Classic last fall. Hunter Mahan followed suit being the only multiple winner on tour, taking down this years WGC Accenture Match Play Championship and the Shell Houston Open. We all know what happened at Augusta just a short month ago. Bubba makes it three out of four Golf Boys who occupied the winners circle.

Like everyone else in the golf world, the Golf Boys were waiting for one more member to make it a clean sweep. With one of the best non-major fields of the year, the Wells Fargo Championship produced yet another fantastic finish full of flamboyant and flashy youngsters with prodigious game. And yes, there was D.A. Points. The 35-year old dude sporting the Lego belt. I hope I’m not the only one who caught the irony in that.

In the end, Rickie’s wedge was better than Points’ and McIlroys’. He knocked in his four-footer for birdie and before he knew it, David Feherty was in his ear congratulating him on his first PGA Tour win. I could hear the collective cries of joy from the Golf Boys. Their sweep was complete and their bond intensified. Awaiting green side, were Fowler’s girlfriend Alexandra, and good friend, Ben Crane.

Friends are there for you. In victory and defeat. The unique thing about the Golf Boys, is the friendship they have formed in a sport that’s so individualistic. Who would think that four guys, who try to beat each other every week on tour, could form such a bond where they wait and cheer for each other at the end of tournaments? Well, that is what makes these four guys different. Not to mention, their strong Christian faith. Maybe Tiger Woods should take a page out of their book. But, that’s a whole different story. Don’t even get me started on that. That is a wild and slippery ride.

Speaking of wild and slippery rides, The Players starts tomorrow with plenty of story lines to gossip about. Pete Dye’s diabolical, and devious, yet brilliant design awaits the players with enough gall to challenge the pin on the island green of seventeen. Around the water coolers at work, I’m sure discussions conceived ideas of how many players will hit it in the water on 17 and which Tiger Woods might show up. Again, don’t get me started.

They say April showers bring May flowers. Well, Bubba reigned in April and Rickie is blooming in May. Can he continue the mojo and tangle TPC Sawgrass’s layout? Don’t be surprised if you see his flat-brimmed orange hat close to the lead come Sunday. The Players, for years, has been argued as being the “fifth major.” Well, the 39th installment of The Players won’t be any different. Yes, it boasts one of the strongest fields of the year, but still remains in the non major category. However, it does come with major money. This years purse of $9.5 million, is the richest on tour. Come get some!

Being rich in tradition, and only in its third year is the local event Golfers Gone Wild. Held at Twin Oaks, this annual event brings out the best and of course, worst of local golfers. And by worst, I mean awesome. Not lacking in entertainment, the event sponsored by Hooters, will showcase golfers following a little white ball around. Right after they finish their beer, of course. It’s open to any and all ladies and gentlemen who want to brave a round in the hot sun and quite possibly, soaked in beer suds. You will find most of your favorite local beer vendors tapping those kegs and pouring cups to the brim.

Registration is now open for the two shotguns(144 player fields) that will be going at 8am and 2pm, respectively.

Entry fee: $60/player. Event date: May 25th. Registration: Twin Oaks pro shop-760.591.4700. Players need to pay in advance to secure their spots. THIS EVENT WILL SELL OUT. I mean, with a title like Golfers Gone Wild, why wouldn’t you want to play? And to all my devoted readers, and non-devoted readers, I will be gracing you with my presence. So, come on out and meet your columnist.

If you’re lucky, you might just find your name in my next column.

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

Masters Hangover & Junior World Golf Championships

I don’t know about you, but I’m still nursing my Masters hangover. As much as the tournament was anticipated by every single living golf soul, The Masters delivered even more excitement than previous years. What started as an anticlimactic tournament on Thursday and Friday, the golf gods served up another beauty over the weekend. From Louie’s double eagle on Sunday morning to Bubba’s 164 yard shot from the pines that required 40 yards of hook to just find the putting surface, Sunday at Augusta kept our collective blood pressures accelerating.

Saturday’s round included a fluctuating leader board full of the ubiquitous Augusta roars and the big names making their move on Moving Day. With the exception of one name, Tiger Woods. Yep, the guy with four green jackets. The same dude that won two weeks ago at Bay Hill. By five strokes. That guy.

What happened to him? No one really knows. We can all speculate til we’re blue in the face. I don’t think even he knows what happened. But what we saw over the weekend is proof that he still isn’t “back.” Will he ever be the same again? Only time will tell. When Tiger was piling up major after major,  his fellow competitors wilted at the sign and sound of his name on the leader board. Guys choked when they heard the roars only Tiger could produce. They choked, Tiger won. It was simple as that. Now, it’s almost like roles have reversed.

Golf is great for that exact reason. The  young studs on tour have no fear and they have proved it. Just ask Keegan Bradley who’s batting .500 in his professional career for majors. Last I checked, that’s the best percentage on tour. Yes, he’s only played in two majors, but you get my point. These young guys are good!

Another guy that is pretty good is the naturally talented, long hitting left-hander, Bubba Watson. I mean, the guy sports an entirely pink driver! So much pink that it makes Paula Creamer jealous. You know a guy that uses a pink driver is fully comfortable in his own skin and more importantly, confident in his game. Confidence is priceless at Augusta.

Bubba owns his unique swing. He’s never had a formal lesson nor ever watched his swing on video. I don’t think he’d even want to watch that video. Augusta is all about the second shot. Ball striking needs to be at a premium and putting needs to be spot on. Bubba had both in high gear and he wasn’t going away. After Louie’s albatross on the par 5 second, which I’m still replaying in my head, Bubba kept his head down and stayed the course.

Literally.

Reeling off four straight birdies on the back nine, Watson found himself tied for the lead after the par 3 16th. Louie and Bubba parred the final two holes and were off to the 18th tee again to start the playoff. Both parred the first  hole in sudden death, so off to the 10th we go. Bubba finally had enough nonsense and decided to make things interesting. And tough. Pulling his drive way left and with his ball resting on pine needles, Watson’s only shot was to hook his ball 40 yards hoping to hit the green. Not only did he pull it off, he put it to within 15 feet. Louie failed to get up and down short of the green and Watson two putted for the win for his first major championship and the coveted green jacket.

Masters week also meant the kiddos here in San Diego were grinding themselves for spots in the upcoming Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, July 10-13. Oaks North held qualifiers on April 1 for boys and girls, 12 and under. As an instructor, I love watching junior golf. The practice greens and driving range were saturated with kids hailing from different parts of the globe. It’s really neat to see a diverse group of young talent displaying their precocious, yet budding personalities.

The qualifier, showcased by the San Diego Junior Golf Association, brought out some great local talent. Winning the girls division, ages 11-12, was local San Diegan, Waverly Whiston. Coming in with an impressive score of -4(56) in the boys division, ages 11-12, was Palm Desert resident, Charles Reiter. Fully clad in Payne Stewart knickers and hat, this colorful kid will be someone to watch out for come tournament time.

Junior golf is rapidly growing into a world-wide interest. An astonishing fifty-four nations have been represented by these youngsters and continues to grow each year. This year won’t be different. Come summer time, San Diego County will be cluttered with future PGA & LPGA stars. With ten local golf courses hosting different age groups, you won’t have to travel far to watch the youthful presence of transcendent swings and pubescent golfers.

These kids want your attention and I think they deserve it. Do yourself a favor and get out to your local muni or country club to catch the future of golf. While you’re at it, tee it up  yourself. You can thank me later. Need I remind you we live in “America’s Greatest City!” That’s code for, “We are lucky, now go play golf!” And watch out for those kids practicing for the tournament. If you find one of them in your foursome, save your Nassau money. My $5 bet is they’d take your money.

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie