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It was the great David St Hubbins who remarked that there’s “such a fine line between stupid and clever”.

Bubba Watson straddled that line to eye-watering effect on Saturday at the Zozo Championship.

Stepping onto the tee of the par-5 sixth hole at Accordia Golf Narashino CC, the two-time Masters champion stunned onlookers when he pegged up his ball – and turned sideways.

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Rather than play the left-to-right sharp dogleg like, say, a normal person, Watson decided to take an alternative approach – and it was borderline genius.

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He powered a drive between the trees to the side of the tee, over a pond and a further cluster of trees, shortening the hole significantly.

Check out the evidence…

Unfortunately for Bubba, his aggression yielded little reward as he ended up parring the hole. However, in a tweet afterwards, he stood by his bold strategy.

“I had a swing so I had a shot,” said the 40-year-old.


author headshot

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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