Liguori: Masters Champ Bubba Watson — And His Style — Will Be Big Boost To Golf
By Ann Liguori
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Welcome to Bubba Golf!
Bubba Watson, the 33-year-old from Bagdad, Florida, is a refreshing addition to the 'Majors' club. He's down-to-earth, fun-loving, goes for broke off the tee, uses a pink-headed driver and never took a golf lesson in his life!
He also isn't shy about his faith, recently adopted a son with his wife, Angie, and shook with tears when he won the Masters on Sunday, his first Major Championship. He did it on the second playoff hole, the tenth, when he hit a spectacular hook shot off the pine straw which landed on the green. He two-putt for par and Louis Oosthuizen bogied the hole.
Oosthuizen made history earlier when he double eagled the par-five second hole, hitting a 4 iron from 253 yards away. It was the first double eagle ever on the second hole and it vaulted the South African to the lead where he remained throughout the day.
In 1935, Gene Sarazen made the 'shot heard round the world" on the par 5, fifteenth hole, eventually beating Craig Wood in a play-off. (Wood was the Head Golf Professional at Winged Foot at the time). Back then, only about two dozen people witnessed Sarazen's albatross but word traveled fast and his feat helped popularize golf and carried The Masters to a new level.
Sarazen was playing with Walter Hagen that day. Bobby Jones walked down from the clubhouse to watch. And a young Byron Nelson was playing the 17th and saw it! Sunday, thousands on the course watched Louis Oosthuizen's ball roll into the cup on that second hole and millions saw it from around the globe.
Bubba grabbed a share of the lead at ten-under, when he birdied the 16th hole, his fourth straight birdie, as he charged on the back and played with the heart and focus of a champion.
Bubba said he never got this far in his dreams. Yet, somehow when he put that green jacket on, it looked like it was meant to be. The sky's the limit for Bubba and I can't think of a better person to boost the sport!
For more information on Ann, visit her web site at www.annliguori.com.
Your thoughts on Bubba and the 2012 Masters? Be heard in the comments below!
