5 Things: Bubba and Volvik ball, Lefty op & the best garden ever

1) Bubba to get even more colourful

A report from a South Korean newspaper has claimed that Bubba Watson will play a Volvik ball in 2017.

The left-hander, who uses a pink Ping driver, has supposedly signed a multi-year deal with the Asian company which is renowned for its multi-coloured balls. Currently Volvik boast some stellar names in the ladies’ game, including Se Ri Pak, but nobody anywhere near the stature of two-time Masters winner Watson.

His agent Jens Beck called the news “unsubstantiated rumours” to the Associated Press – Watson is currently with Titleist – which goes on to say that the American will receive $1.2m a year plus stock options and a signing bonus.

Volvik USA’s president added some interesting detail in that Watson could use a pink ball for final rounds and maybe a green ball at Augusta.

2) Second op for Lefty

While Tiger Woods has committed to Riviera we are still waiting to discover when his greatest rival (and partner) over all these years will make his playing return.

Phil Mickelson last played at the Safeway Open in October before undergoing surgery on a hernia. Supposedly the left-hander was ‘all fixed up’ after having a walnut-sized hernia behind his belly button removed but he now needs further surgery.

He had hoped to be back at La Quinta on January 19, where he is an ambassador for the event, but it is now unclear whether he will be fit.

Mickelson hasn’t won a title since the Open Championship in 2013.

3) Walker Cup rota (I know, it’s not a rota) just got even better

The incentive to make the Walker Cup teams in 2021 and 2025 just got even bigger with the news that Seminole (Florida) and Cypress Point (California) will host the future domestic matches.

Next year we are off to Los Angeles Country Club, the venue for the 2023 US Open, before Royal Liverpool again play host having staged the 1983 matches as well as an unofficial one in 1921.

And then we are off to Seminole, a Donald Ross course which is yet to hold a USGA championship, and a new May date in the diary before reverting to its September slot at Cypress Point in 2025.

The Californian course, thought by many to be the best in the world, has held the matches once back in 1981. And is hardly overplayed with around eight groups populating the famous links on a daily basis.

The 2021 and 2025 Walker Cup Matches will be contested at Seminole G.C. and Cypress Point Club, respectively. https://t.co/IVumr7oUVq pic.twitter.com/mlbsQqolpr

— USGA (@USGA) December 15, 2016

4) The Golden Bear (and his 55-year-old cub) to attend Trump inauguration

When Donald Trump is sworn in next month he will be joined by 18-time Major winner Jack Nicklaus, and his son Jackie.

When Nicklaus received his Congressional Medal of Honor in 2015 Jackie made a speech that made quite an impression on the President elect.

“Donald called and said, ‘I want you to bring that kid (55-year-old Jackie) that can really talk,’” Nicklaus said. “Every time he talks to Barbara and me he says, ‘That is the best speech I ever heard. He called personally to ask me to come.”

The Golden Bear has missed two presidential inaugurations due to his scheduling but will be in Washington in January.

The pair worked together on Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx. 

5) Can you imagine….

This is the new back garden of putting guru Dave Stockton. Helped by his son, Dave Stockton Jr, the green will apparently play like the greens at nearby Augusta National and Stockton Sr will give clinics during the week of the Masters.

Another custom @BackNineGreens beauty designed by my dad and I in Augusta, GA. Can't wait to give clinics here the week of The Masters! pic.twitter.com/9IiJtLrowI

— Dave Stockton Jr (@DSJR1) December 17, 2016