American professional golfer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gerry Lester "Bubba" Watson, Jr.[1] (born November 5, 1978) is an American professional golfer. He plays on the PGA Tour. He plays left-handed. He is a multiple major champion, having won The Masters Tournament in 2012 and in 2014.[2] In February 2015, Watson reached a career-high 2nd place in the Official World Golf Ranking.
| Bubba Watson | |
|---|---|
Watson in 2012 | |
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Gerry Lester Watson, Jr. |
| Nickname | Bubba |
| Born | November 5, 1978 Bagdad, Florida |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 13 st) |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Residence | Windermere, Florida |
| Spouse | Angie Watson |
| Children | Caleb, Dakota |
| Career | |
| College | Faulkner State C.C. University of Georgia |
| Turned professional | 2003 |
| Current tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 12 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 9 |
| Other | 3 |
| Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 2) | |
| The Masters Tournament | Won: 2012, 2014 |
| U.S. Open | T5: 2007 |
| The Open Championship | T23: 2012 |
| PGA Championship | 2nd: 2010 |
Watson is among the longest drivers on the PGA Tour. In 2007 he had an average drive of 315.2 yards (288.2 m) and can hit a ball over 350 yards (320 m), capable of generating a ball speed up to 194 mph (312 km/h).[3][4]
Also, in 2015, Watson won the Travelers Championship; and the unofficial Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December. In this tournament he finished 25 strokes under par, winning $1,000,000.[5]
Before the Phoenix Open in February 2016, Watson said that he did not like the golf course, the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Scottsdale.[6] So he was jeered by fans for most of the tournament. He then talked against the media for "turning his words around".[7] Two weeks later, he won the Northern Trust Open in California for a second time in three years. He won by one stroke to finish at 15 under par.[8]
Watson was born and grew up in Bagdad, Florida, near Pensacola. He played on the golf team at Milton High School, which also graduated two other PGA Tour members, Heath Slocum and Boo Weekley.[9]
Watson then played golf for Faulkner State Community College in Baldwin County, Alabama, where he was a junior college All-American. He transferred to the University of Georgia, who were then the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Champions. He played for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2000 and 2001. As a junior, Watson helped lead the Bulldogs to the Southeastern Conference title in 2000.
Watson went professional in 2003 and played the Nationwide Tour until 2005. He played well enough that year to be the last player to qualify for the following year's PGA Tour. As a rookie (beginner) in 2006, he earned $1,019,264 and led the PGA Tour in driving distance at 319.6 yards (292.2 m).
Watson won his first PGA Tour on June 27, 2010, in Cromwell, Connecticut, at the Travelers Championship. He defeated two other players on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.[10] Crying, Watson said the win was for his parents, especially his father, who had cancer.
Watson began his own clothing line named "Bubba Golf" in 2007. He was invited on The Ellen DeGeneres Show after he sent her a video of a golf trick shot he made for her birthday.
Watson is a Christian who talks openly about how much his faith means to his life.[11] Watson gives a lot of his money and time to charity.
| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters Tournament | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 8 |
| U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 5 |
| The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 |
| PGA Championship | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 |
| Totals | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 36 | 24 |
| Legend |
| Major championships (2) |
| World Golf Championships (1) |
| Other PGA Tour events (6) |
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