US MASTERS
But we’re not talking about Tiger Woods here.
The romantic in most of us craves the ultimate fairytale return to Major glory for Woods after all his body has been through.
But the notion of a win for Bubba Watson would be a lmost as remarkable.
This time last year the idea of Watson lifting much, let alone a trophy, seemed a struggle as his weight plummeted due to a health issue that has not yet been revealed by the big Floridian.
The scales weren’t the only thing to plummet. His world ranking dropped like a stone too.
From sixth to 49th in the space of 12 months then continuing to tumble out of the top 100 for the first time in more than a decade.
With his renowned booming long game weakened and his lust for the game sapped, Watson admitted last summer that his priorities had changed – and it led him to consider chucking it altogether.
Meet ing with Watson at an American-themed breakfast event in Southport at the start of Open week last July, he was conspicuously the only one not wolf ing into the lavish – deliciously unhealthy – spread on offer.
But at the time he was keen to play down talk of his skeletal frame, insisting he’d simply cut down on sugar and didn’t eat a thing after 7pm every night.
It’s his right to keep health matters private but the obvious consequence of his fragile physique was a loss of the explosiveness that powered him to two US Masters titles in 2012 and 2014.
When it came to his other loss of appetite – his hunger for success on the golf course – Watson was disarmingly open and frank.
Bottom line is that he just didn’t care about competing any more. He’d lost his mojo.
He said: “My form is terrible! I guess life happened. If you’re spending time on something then something else has to give.
“How can I make my wife feel like a princess or my queen? How can I make my kids feel as if they are the only things that count?
“I have a two-year-old who is wild, sleeps two hours a night and screams and hollers. I have a five-year-old who wants my attention. “Would you focus on golf or this? “I’m smart but I’m not smart enough to do both.
“Jack Nicklaus was able to play golf and be a great father and I’ve not figured it out yet.” Now it seems Bubba has found a way. Victory in the Genesis Open in February heralded a shock return to the winners’ circle that few had predicted, not even Watson himself.
Any temptation to pass that off as a fluke was quickly blown out the water last week with his systematic dismantling of an elite field at the Dell World Matchplay.
The highest profile casualty of Bubba’s success being World No.1 in-waiting Justin Thomas, who fluffed his lines with top spot in his sights during the semi-finals.
Now Watson arrives in Augusta – refreshed by the family holiday – hailed as a serious contender.
Of course, there are many in the most eagerly-anticipated Masters in a long time. Tiger will hog the lion’s share of the focus . B u t throw in Phil Mickelson who recently got back to winning ways himself after a lengthy drought stretching back to his Open win at Muirfield in 2014.
Same goes for fit-and-healthy again Rory McIlroy, coming into this one on form and unburdened by the usual attention thanks to the distraction of Tiger’s travelling media circus.
Add a dollop of spice with Justin Rose, last year’s runner-up defeated by Sergio Garcia in a play-off.
In the last three years the Englishman has finished second, 10th and second on an Augusta National track known for bringing the same old faces to the top end of the leaderboard year-in year- out. The former US Open winner and reigning Olympic champ is possibly the best value of the front runners at the bookies.
Now throw Bubba into the mix and the possibilities of a truly remarkable sporting story unfolding on this lush green patch of golfing paradise.
He said: “Last year was the lowest point. One of my lowest points in my life. Mentally, being an athlete is not easy. Everybody wants to take time that you can’t get back.
“You run out of time for yourself, your wife, kids, friends and family.
“My family life has been beautiful because I realised what time means but it was a low point in my golf.
“A low point in my physical abilities and health. It was a scary time.
“I couldn’t hit the shots that I wanted because I lost all the weight.
“I said I wasn’t going to play again but sitting at home I was thinking, ‘Man, this sucks. I want to play golf.’ I got off my couch and started playing. Quit eating chips and here we are.
“So it was me and my team pushing me, asking me what I really want to do. And going to an office every day didn’t feel like it would be fun.
“Now having realised some of these things and getting better physically and mentally, here we are two trophies this year - and a lot more weight!”
A weight that can suddenly be measured in expectation as well as pounds and ounces.
He said: “I want a Green Jacket. I never felt a coat feel so good.
“But I don’t know if I can get that lucky three times. I’m not a favourite.
“I don’t want anybody to talk to me on Masters week, let me just focus on what I’ve got to do. I want you to bug everybody else.”
Last year he might have had a chance of that happening but not this time as one of the Masters past masters showing signs of regaining his powers.