BUBBA SLUMP ...
... finally over as Watson gets his 1st ‘W’ in 2 years
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Fortunately for Bubba Watson and unfortunately for the rest of the field, there was no sign of Tracy McGrady around Riviera Country Club on Sunday. Two days after McGrady, the former NBA star, rejected a Watson drive to the basket in the NBA All-Star Weekend’s Celebrity Game, Watson rejected all comers in Sunday’s final round of the Genesis Open, which he won by two shots over Tony Finau and Kevin Na at 12under par. For Watson, who shot 65-69 on the weekend, it was his first PGA Tour win since he won this event in 2016 and it left him in tears on the 18th green when it was over, his face buried in the right shoulder of his caddie, Ted Scott. The victory was the third of Watson’s career at Riviera (2014, ‘16 and now ’18). He joined Ben Hogan and Lloyd Mangrum as three-time winners at Riviera. When Watson won at Riviera two years ago, he rose to No. 4 in the world rankings. He entered this week ranked 117th after a poor last two years. The win elevated him to No. 41 in the world and qualified him to play World Golf Championship in Mexico City in two weeks.
After winning Sunday, Watson conceded to previously discussing retirement with his wife, Angie, because he had started doubting his game and questioning whether he’d win again.
“It’s overwhelming [considering] where I was a yearand-a-half ago,’’ Watson said. “So many emotions going through my head right now. You never know if you’re going to play good again. You never know if you’re going to lift the trophy.”
Watson has said in the past that he would retire if he could win 10 PGA Tour tournaments. Sunday was his 10th career victory.
“I got my 10 wins,’’ he said. “Nobody thought that Bubba Watson from Bagdad, Florida, would ever get to 10 wins, let’s be honest. With- out lessons, head case, hooking the ball, slicing the ball, can’t putt, you know? Somehow we’re here making fun of it. So yes, I’ve got to set a new goal.’’
About the retiring thing, Watson said, “I was close, my wife was not close. My wife basically told me to quit whining and play golf. She’s a lot tougher than I am.’’
The catalyst to the victory was a holeout for birdie from a greenside bunker on the par-3 14th hole. That got him to 11under and gave him a two-shot lead at the time. It, too, allowed him to relieve himself in a nearby portable toilet.
When Watson climbed out of the bunker with the crowd still buzzing from his shot, he pointed to Scott, his caddie, and told him he called it. “My little secret there was Cameron [Smith, his playing partner] was telling me where the bathroom was — it was on the next tee — and he said, ‘Well, we’ve got a couple shots and then you can just go to the bathroom if you can wait,’ Watson said. “I said, ‘Nah, I’m just going to hole it and then go straight to the bathroom.’ “Then I holed it and I was like, ‘ Um, I guess I can go to the bathroom.’ He probably didn’t like it as much as I did, but it was pretty funny at the time.’’ Watson said playing in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game “loosened me up.’’ “I was so focused on other things I didn’t have time to focus on where I stood going into this week,’’ he said. He did say, though, that on Sunday he was “nervous all the way through,’’ adding, “That’s why I didn’t eat, because I would have thrown up.’’