LIV Golf continues to recruit players with a long history on the PGA Tour. The latest golfer to join the Saudi circuit was Bubba Watson, 43 years old and winner of 12 tournaments on the North American circuit. The announcement of Watson’s signing was made as the first round of the Bedminster LIV Invitational, the third tournament in LIV Golf history, was played.
Bubba Watson, Liv
As in other cases such as those of Phil Mickelson or Sergio García, Bubba Watson lands on the Saudi circuit far from his golden years. His last top-10 in a major was in 2018, although, however, the one in Florida has two great tournaments in his showcase.
In 2012 and 2014 he won the Augusta Masters, so he will always be able to play this tournament despite being at LIV Golf (unless Augusta National says otherwise). With Watson’s, there are now 12 major winners who have signed with LIV Golf: Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Henrik Stenson, Sergio García, Patrick Reed, Bryson DeChambeau, Louis Oosthuizen, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Charl Schwartzel, Graeme McDowell and now Bubba Watson.
A new blow from LIV Golf to the PGA Tour, which loses a player who has been a protagonist, eventually, in the last decade. Watson was born and raised in Baghdad (Florida). He is one of the few left-handed golfers and is known on the circuit for the extraordinary power of his drive and his fantasy of the game.
Watson is among the longest players on the PGA Tour, in 2007 he had an average drive of 315.2 yards (288.2m) and can reach over 350 yards (320m), capable of generating ball speeds of up to 194 mph (312 km / h). In April 2012 he won his first Major by beating South African Louis Oosthuizen on the second hole of the playoff.
After making the winning stroke, he is unable to contain the emotion by crying for several minutes, which is repeated in the interview that precedes the ceremony of donning the green jacket that is brought to him by the outgoing champion, the South African Charl Schwartzel.
Second Masters won Watson won the 2014 Masters Tournament with a three-shot lead, with a score of -8. He enters the playoffs with 20-year-old rookie Jordan Spieth. With the win, Watson became the 17th player to win the Masters two or more times. He is by order of merit in the 2014 Ryder Cup.
