Watson in good frame of mind – and game
MEXICO CITY – Bubba Watson has always marched to the beat of his own drum.
So it came as no surprise to learn how he dealt with missing the cut last week in the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, one of his favorite courses in the world and the site of three of his 12 PGA Tour titles.
Instead of hopping on a plane for a quick trip to his home in Florida, he remained in the City of Angels and called up a good friend for a friendly round of golf before heading to the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship.
A day after missing the cut, Watson was joined by Justin Bieber on the first tee at Lakeside Golf Club. Yes, that Bieber, the 25-year-old pop star. The two were joined by Watson’s caddie, Ted Scott, pastor Judah Smith and producers Mark Scoon and Ryan Good.
“Life sometimes throws you curveballs. I’ve had some ups and downs over the last five years in my personal life, in my mind, and I’ve reached out to some guys and I’ve also helped some guys,” Watson said. “I was very disappointed missing the cut. But at the same time, you’ve got to live life. So I called my buddy and we got together and played some golf and freed it up and just had some fun. I was in a good frame of mind, and where my life is with my beautiful wife and my beautiful kids; who cares about missing a cut really.”
Watson has remained in a good frame of mind at Club de Golf Chapultepec, which rests 7,800 feet above sea level. One would naturally think the bighitting lefty would love playing in the thin air, but his results in this tournament would indicate otherwise – he’s finished in ties for 27th, ninth and 38th.
But he got off to a great start Thursday with a 4-under-par 67 to place him two strokes behind leader and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy.
“Well, what my psychologist would say would be yes, I love it here. I don’t have a psychologist, but if I did, that’s what they would say,” said Watson, who had finished in a tie for sixth in the Farmers Insurance Open and in a tie for third in the Waste Management Phoenix Open before missing the Genesis cut.
“It’s one of those things where it’s fun. When we talk about four days of golf, me and you hit a shot and we land a foot apart, one is going to bounce, one doesn’t. And it’s just about getting the bounces to go your way, the putt to go your way, and today I made some putts. I missed a couple greens just off the green, so it looks like I missed a lot of greens today, but I putted the ball nicely.”
Watson one-putted 13 greens, including the final seven to close out his round.
“I know my ball-striking is where I want it to be. My mind is where I want it to be and everything,” he said. “Coming here, I was just hoping I’d get the right bounces and the right breaks. I know I can play around here if I stay committed to all the shots, and today I did that.
“The key is always patience. That’s the beauty of what Tiger Woods has been able to do, McIlroy has been able to do. It comes down to patience. When you have patience and trust in yourself and your ability, that’s when you can play good golf. I mean, all these guys at this field, at this event can play the game of golf. But it comes down to who’s got the most patience and the freed-up mind and mental attitude.”