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

Another Major, Another Major Surprise?

First, there was Bubba Watson and his ridiculous home-made talent that produced the craziest and most unpredictable shot of the year. Green jacket, check. Second, there was Webb Simpson and his gritty, yet calm demeanor that produced just enough pars. U.S. Open trophy, check. Third, there was a “Big Easy” who, literally, stole The Open away from Adam Scott. Claret Jug, check.

So, who’s going to win the Wanamaker Trophy? I don’t know. You wana-maker-bet? That’s how most of the conversations have gone around the water coolers across America this year. Nobody has a clue who will win. And that’s a good thing. Sure, we expect Tiger to be in contention, but can he finally finish the job? Seems that his job lately has been to answer hundreds of questions about why he can’t get, well, the job done. The endless parade of questions won’t stop until he does get to fifteen. Then, the media will ask, “When is the next one? Huh, huh?”  They can be greedy like that.

Greed is something players will want to leave out of their bags this week at Kiawah Island. “If the wind starts to blow, this is going to be a monster of a course,” said European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal. If you leave the wind out of the equation, players still know who designed this course: Pete Dye. Yep, that Pete Dye. Known as one of the most diabolical designers in America, Dye’s layout will no doubt bring a monumental challenge. Touted as ‘Glory’s Last Shot,’ the 94th PGA Championship will be played on The Ocean Course.

With ten holes set along the ocean, length will also play a factor. At 7,676 yards, you might favor the longer hitters on a course of this length, but Dye’s length can be deceiving. Pete is known for his precarious alignment of holes and how the players actually view the course. Tee boxes are set on a different line to where the greens are set. Players who find themselves coming in with their approach shots from the wrong angle, will definitely pay the price. Pete Dye’s greens, if you remember Pinehurst #2, aren’t the easiest. The Ocean Course won’t be much different.

While length is a big part of the conversation this week, players are talking about the shortest holes being the most difficult. The eighth, fourteenth, and seventeenth holes are all par threes. The 8th is the only one of the three holes that measures under 200 yards. See, it’s only 198 yards. I guess the PGA gave the players a little break, eh? The 14th and 17th measure 238 yards and 223 yards, respectively. Throw in that wind I talked about, and players will have a tough time holding the green. It’s like Pete Dye is taking a page out of Tony Montana’s book and saying, “Say hello to my little friend.”

Those par threes aren’t so little.

With all the talk during each major championship week focused on who the front-runners are, why don’t we pay attention to who aren’t? It seems that’s where all the winners have come from this year. Was Bubba Watson a favorite to win at Augusta? I don’t think so. Did you remember hearing Webb Simpson’s name mentioned to conquer Olympic? The dude didn’t even lead the tournament until his 72nd hole. Was Ernie Els popping up on British betting sites as the favorite? Um, no. Els started the week at 40/1.

With that little bit of knowledge and all the parity on the PGA Tour this year, my pick to win is John Daly. Cue cricket sounds. Yes, that is a joke, but he is actually in the field. With a T5 at Reno-Tahoe last week, Daly and his flowery pants might be a super sleeper. And I mean super! My real pick to win this week is the soft-spoken, sneaky long-hitting South African, Louis Oosthuizen. He’s a bomber and a ball striker. But then again, what do I know? Someone that I didn’t mention will most likely win the 94th PGA Championship. Guess that’s the way it should be.

Oh yeah, watch out for Jason Dufner, Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar, Steve Stricker, and I’ll even throw in Phil Mickelson. Did I miss anyone?

 

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

 

Parity On The PGA; Miernicki Makes Pro Debut

Well, the golf world of writers had it right this time, right? On the eve of the 112th U.S. Open, the media had Webb Simpson as their favorite, didn’t they? Sure, Tiger was in the conversation but could anyone look past Webb’s breakout season in 2011? I mean, the guy had two wins, three runner-up finishes, and twelve top ten finishes. How could they not have him as the favorite?

Turns out, no one had Webb as their pick to win the U.S. Open. Except for, well, Webb Simpson. That’s exactly how the golf world has worked the past couple years. No one really knows who’s going to win each week. Parity was a term that was rarely used in the conversation. From 2000-2008, during Tiger’s dominance, players played for second and third place. Phil Mickelson won two Masters and one PGA Championship. Vijay Singh dethroned Tiger Woods as the number one player in the world. It was the Tiger, Phil, and Vijay show for many years.

Now, it’s the “who’s going to win this week?” show. There was more parody in a Weird Al Yankovich album than there was parity in golf. Dare I say, golf almost became–boring? Ok, maybe it wasn’t boring but it was missing some good ‘ol competition. Today, the competition is better than ever. Fields each week are deeper than before and guys like Webb Simpson, Johnson Wagner, George McNeill, and John Huh became a part of the conversation. Huh? In the last fifteen majors, there has been, yep, you guessed it, fifteen different winners. Could Weird Al write a parody on parity? 

All the aforementioned names have won this year on the PGA Tour. That’s right, they’ve won, and weren’t just weekend contenders. It’s tough to find parity in sports. Everybody wants it except for the teams and/or players that are winning. We forget how important parity is to each respective sport. Parity, is what makes teams and players better. Players will spend an extra hour on the range each day so they won’t fall behind their peers. Saturday at the U.S. Open, Woods played a guessing game on the greens at Olympic Club. Guess who was on the putting green until dark that night?

Tiger, of course, boosted ratings and brought more sponsors to the game. Prize money went through the proverbial roof, and golf was “cool” again. Just like baseball, chicks dig the long ball. Why else do you think Gary Woodland plays golf?

Parity has found its way back onto the PGA Tour and it isn’t going anywhere. Tiger may be back in the conversation, but he’s not entirely “back.” He needs to win a major before we go there. Keep the channel tuned and we’ll see where that saga goes.

From the never-ending saga that is Tiger Woods, to a new saga, local talent Daniel Miernicki tees it up this week in the Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour. Son to PGA Director of Instruction at Twin Oaks, Paul Miernicki, Daniel looks to start off his virgin career with a good start. This will be his first official event as a pro. The Oregon Duck star was one stroke from qualifying for the U.S. Open, only to get beat by rival player from Oregon State, Nick Sherwood. Daniel’s coach, Casey Martin, also topped  him in the sectional qualifier. Coaches are so mean today.

Finding a lot of success during college, Miernicki faces a new battle on tour. A rookie with no status, he will look to sponsors exemptions to keep making starts and hopefully, making money. The equation is pretty simple: play well, make cuts, and keep your head on straight. Daniel kept his head during his college career winning five times and was ranked eighth in the nation with a scoring average of 70.70 as a senior.

Daniel will sport Nike at the Travelers Championship. He also hopes to follow in his fellow competitor, Patrick Cantlay’s, footsteps. Only a short year ago, Cantlay shot 60 in the second round to record the lowest round by an amateur. Cantlay also makes his pro debut this week in Hartford. I guess the Travelers Championship is a good place for college kids to make their pro debut. Miernicki hopes that history will repeat itself. So does his father.

 

 

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie