I never thought I’d say it, but after years of answering “Phil” or “Lefty” or “Mickelson” if I was feeling proper, I’m fairly certain my answer is now “Bubba.”
So if you want to know my favorite golfer, I have to admit, a new southpaw has taken over at the top of the heap.
Stretching back into 2010 I found myself captivated by this big tall lefty with a funky swing you’d expect to see on the range somewhere. The nerdy top-button buttoned golf shirt and the old-school visor straight out of the 1980s, but not in a cool, retro way, just in a Bubba sort of way.
When he won late in the year and broke down emotionally, the bond was starting to be built. Having lost my father at a young age, I could feel the pain in Bubba Watson’s heart, so uncertain about the health of his dad, knowing that the prognosis wasn’t good, but understanding that he was able to stand there, hoist a trophy while there was still time to share it.
I’m a sucker for a heartstrings pulling, big risk-taking, honest-talking, Twitter-loving, fan friendly guy. And Bubba Watson has proven to be each of those.
He wears his emotions on his sleeve, throughout the round and after the round. When he lost his best shot at a major with some very questionable decisions in the playoff (see: big risk-taking), he didn’t fake some sort of disappointment that wasn’t there. He was proud of himself to get to that point and knew he’d be back.
He’s also got the risky, no holding back approach to the game that long made Phil my absolute favorite on the course. It will absolutely cost them both, but in the end, as a fan, I want to root for the guy willing to try pulling off the impossible, or at least the improbable. Bubba doesn’t have the record of outlandish plays in big spots to rival Mickelson’s yet, but I have faith. You can’t be labeled risky until your labeled irresponsible, and last year’s infamous PGA Championship would have put Watson on far more of a public broiler had we in the media not been so focused on Bunkergate.
But for all the attributes I appreciate on the course, it’s away from it that I can see so much that I love about Phil in Bubba. For years I contended that Tiger wanted to be number one in the rankings, and that Mickelson was happy to be number one among the fans. Phil’s always wearing a smile, waving, nodding to those cheering him, understanding that there’s more to being a professional golfer than making birdies. He’ll stand there and sign every autograph after a round, and to this day my grandmother’s got her signed Mickelson visor on display and will light up anyone someone asks about the day she watched Phil play in person.
So while the venue has changed, I get the same sense about Watson, who along with a few others on Tour, has made himself accessible through Twitter, as well as being one of the most visible players through TV interviews, goofy online videos and showing the world he isn’t a robot, he’s a guy with real emotions and feelings, who happens to play golf for a living.
I’d guess there are a lot of things that go into determining which players we root for and which we root against. It could be anything from a guy’s choice in irons matching our own, to the way he carries himself (is he aloof? Looking at you, DLIII… is he raunchy? Looking at you, Daly … is he boring? Looking at you, 80 percent of PGA Tour fields). Me, I’ve figured out what I like. Risk taking golfers, who engage with the public and are willing to open themselves up, let us in for better or for worse. It’s a guy who can bear his soul at the dark moments (think Mickelson calling himself an “idiot” after blowing the U.S. Open or Watson’s weepy interviews) that we can also embrace them at the heights of success.
Maybe it’s like swapping out one driver for another, knowing that at some point you’ll have them both at the range and longingly put the recently replaced stick back in the bag. But, I’m sorry Phil, my 905r. I’ve got my eyes on this brand new 910d2. A little newer, fresher look, a bit more pizzazz. But when you’re up there making a Sunday charge, you better save some room, cause I’ll be the first jumping back on the bandwagon. Luckily, there’s no 14-club limit when it comes to a favorite player stable.
Pace of Play is Brutal
While I’m on the topic of favorite players to watch, I have to note how painful it was to watch J.B. Holmes compete in the matchplay. Without the ability to cut in and out of the shots of a dozen guys, when TV had nothing but Holmes, you realized how mind-bogglingly slow he is. I understand the concept of a pre-shot routine and subscribe to my own, but if I even got to Holmes’ snail pace I’d be kicked off the course by the ranger, or more likely by my foursome.
Ben Crane has long been a chronic offender and has often run afoul of the pace police. I can remember watching him take more time in a bunker than some foursomes will take to putt out on a green.
The PGA Tour’s players have a strong say in the rules, and I’m shocked they haven’t been more aggressive in cracking down on slow play. It absolutely grinds down the other guys in a group, there are constant complaints from the entire field, and it no doubt robs from the viewing experience. They need to find a way to punish the true, compulsive offenders without docking their playing competitors, and spread the word to the general golfing public that there is no reason golf should take as long as it does.
Photo Credits: © Sam Greenwood/Getty .
Definitely a fan. With that ridiculously long backswing and huge pull fades and push draws, Bubba is certainly fun to watch. He’s a genuine person and sometimes overly emotional. One of my favorite moments was when he got angry and told off Steve Elkington for playing slowly/gamesmanship. Bubba later apologized (mostly because microphones picked up the conversation). Bubba isn’t afraid to be honest with himself or others even if it means taking an unpopular or less than a politically correct stance.
I have always been a phil fan, and interestingly enough, bubba has always been on my radar as someone i could watch 18 holes played. I enjoy his riskiness, the emotion on his face when he hits the shots he likes, and those he doesn’t. As a fellow lefty, one of the few, i got to root for these guys, they are genuine people of our beloved game, i wish there where more like them.
Becoming a fan but I sure hope he can control his post poor shot antics and just take it like a man! At the match play he acted a bit childish when the wind got his already poor shot and he was blaming it on everything but himself. If he can just put his head down and take it I will become a huge fan!
I’m definitely a fan and especially enjoy his videos.
Your article is a great. I appreciate the way that you highlighted his humanity instead of just focusing on his abilities.
One thing…when he “bears his sole”, should be edited to “soul”.
Thanks for the informative article. It says a lot about you as well.
I turned into a big Bubba fan last year watching him and his style. He works the ball and plays a certain shot based on what the architect and course setup crews ask for. With the golf ball spinning less, it’s impressive to see someone do this. I also love the fact that he goes for everything. Case in point was the playoff vs JB when the camera was on him before his second shot. The exchange between he and his caddie went something like this;
Bubba – “Where’s JB?”
Caddie – “I don’t know, can’t see.”
Bubba – “What do you think? Should be we for it? Hell yeah, lets go for it. Eat your heart out!”
Bubba took a large lash at it, starting walking to get a better view and once he saw it was headed towards the green tipped his cap and confidently continued to walk towards the green. A showman in every sense of the word and just another reason why he’s refreshing and great for the game.
Thanks for the feedback (and the heads up about the grammatical error, it’s fixed). Glad to see I’m not alone in being captivated by this guy. As someone who never looks at a shot and thinks about hitting it straight, I especially love watching Bubba work it left and right, and not being afraid to turn a power fade into an 80 yard slice if that’s what his eye sees.
ack! at you guys abandoning Phil. I don’t like this guy. … Good golfer or not, I’m not jumping on this bandwagon, which it seems that is all it is. People looking for new heroes. If I want to watch someone emotional, I will watch a soap opera.
Great writeup. I’ve never really been the biggest Phil fan, respectful admiration might be the best way to describe it, as everyone knows how ridiculously talented he is, but I’m 100% with you on Bubba, I just don’t know why. As much as I get sick of hearing NFL announcers saying Brett Favre is “just having fun out there”, I honestly believe that holds true for Bubba. That top button does drive me nuts though 🙂
But yeah, I know it’s been said a million times, but I wish more players would show more emotion and be less boring. There’s a thread in the forums where I posted the video of Overton and Bubba celebrating after Overton’s holeout in the Ryder Cup. Prime example of how there is nothing wrong with true emotion and celebration, and how much of a blast it can be to watch.
As for Holmes, the black glove is equally annoying as the slow play. Yes, I am a superficial jerk, I admit it 🙂
I’ve never been a big Bubba Watson fan, but I appreciate how far he has come as a golfer. I remember thinking he was just going to be a side show who hit it a mile off the tee. I also remember him hitting one of the worst shanks I’ve ever seen when leading a tournament a few years back (maybe Castle Rock). Since then, however, his game has really come full circle. He is much more solid all-around, and he has proven he can contend and win big events. He has had a great following for years, and it’s nice to see him work hard and have some success.
On a side note, I get goose bumps every time I watch the “Boom Baby” scene from the Ryder Cup. I’m not sure who was more excited, Overton or Watson!
Great article Ron!
My dad got me into golf with hand-me-down lefty clubs when I was fourteen. I played for two years and then quit. Surfing, music and rambling took precedence. After twenty-four years, I recently came back to golf. Bubba Watson was a major inspiration for it. I watched that goofball lefty out there having a blast and said, “Look at all the fun I’ve been missing!” He seems like such a good person as well as a good golfer. Of course his drives are unbelievable. He’s great for the sport. Phil is too. This is a nice article. Thanks.