Bubba eyes off Masters
BUBBA Watson has rejected his status as one of the favourites for the Masters despite romping to a dominant victory at the World Golf Championships match play tournament in Texas.
Clinching his second US PGA Tour victory this year, Watson ensured he enters the Augusta National major as the form player among a group of heavyweights headlined by Tiger Woods.
Only a month after claiming the Los Angeles Open at Riviera Country Club, Watson demolished Kevin Kisner 7 and 6 in the final of the match play event. It was the largest margin of victory at the tournament since Woods beat Stewart Cink 8 and 7 in the 36-hole final in 2008.
It came only hours after Watson swept aside world No.2 Justin Thomas 3 and 2 in the semi-final at Austin Country Club.
But two-time Masters winner Watson refuses to accept his tag as the world’s hottest player on the eve of the major championship season.
“No, I’m not a favourite; I’m definitely going to say that,” Watson said.
“(Favouritism) is stuff we don’t care about; we want to try do our jobs and if we do, we think we’re good enough to beat the other guys.”
The 2018 edition is tipped to be the most anticipated Masters in history, with big guns Thomas, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy also in the US Tour winner’s circle.
Watson becomes just the fifth golfer to win multiple world championships and multiple majors.
Watson embraced his mother Molly as he choked through tears on the 12th green, where he defeated Kisner with a birdie.
“This one was emotional when my mum gave me a hug,” Watson said. “She said I was really good at this game but I said, ‘ without you I’m nothing’.”