Watson: “I cried when Bubba won”

Eight-time major-winner Tom moved to tears by namesake’s Masters victory

Teary-eyed: Tom Watson says Bubba Watson’s victory in the Masters last weekend moved him to tears

Tom Watson has revealed he was moved to tears after seeing his namesake Bubba win the Masters Tournament last weekend.

Tom, 62, won eight majors in eight years, between 1975 and 1983, including the two Green Jackets in 1977 and 1981.

However, he said that seeing Bubba brilliantly win his first major at Augusta and then witnessing his emotional reaction to that victory, brought a tear to his eye.

“It reminded me of Ben Crenshaw when he won and Harvey Penick died , ” said Watson. “Ben went to the funeral, came back and then won the tournament.

“Any golfer watching on Sunday could relate to it. I mean, I cried when cried, and it was beautiful,. A lot of things culminated with that win with him. He missed his dad, his mom was there hugging him. It was a beautiful sight.”

Speaking ahead of the Champions Tour’s Encompass Insurance Pro-Am this week, Watson added that Bubba’s unorthodox style is a good thing for the game and that even he has learned a little from watching the free-swinging left-hander play.

“The main thing about Bubba is that he puts the club on the ball where he wants to,” said Tom. “I practiced my chipping on Wednesday and he came up and I was practicing. We were 10 ten from each other, and I noticed every chip shot he hit was absolutely dead solid perfect. I mean dead solid. You could hear it.

“The way I chip, it’s clunky now. I looked at his form there and I said to myself, ‘My hands aren’t quite far enough ahead when I chip’, and so I started doing that this week and practicing the last couple days. Who would have thunk it, you know? I’m starting to hit the ball solid again just by watching Bubba chip.”

He added: “You can’t say Bubba’s swing is a classic golf swing but in one sense it is. It’s a swing for the ages because you look at the golf swing and you see the results, and the purpose of the golf game is to get results.

“My dad always said, ‘Beware of the guy who comes out on the first tee and he’s got a terrible grip and a terrible golf swing. If he’s in that tournament with you, there’s a good chance he knows how to play with that type of golf swing.’ Bubba’s that type of person.

“He’s exceptionally long. The shot he hit on the second play-off hole that he hooked the gap wedge 155 yards, there are very few people who can do that, hook it and hit it that far. The only two people that I have witnessed be able to hit a wedge like that are [ Trevino and Andy North. They can turn a wedge just right around a corner. I can’t do that. I can’t turn it that much.”

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered