Bubba Watson: Player Profile
Who is Bubba Watson?
Bubba Watson is one of the most charismatic men in the game, and is a two-time major champion and 12-time winner on the PGA Tour.
Born in Florida in 1978, Watson started playing golf from a young age, and played alongside fellow PGA Tour members Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum at Milton High School. He then played for both Faulkner State C.C. and the University of Georgia during his collegiate years, and he helped the Georgia Bulldogs to the SEC title in 2000.
Watson turned professional in 2002, and spent his first few years on the Nationwide (now Korn Ferry) Tour. He graduated to the PGA Tour in 2006, but had to wait four years before grabbing his first PGA Tour victory. He won the Travelers Championship, an event he would go on to win three times. Watson is a two-time Masters Tournament champion, having won at Augusta National in both 2012 and 2014. He will always be remembered for THAT approach shot during the sudden death play-off against Louis Oosthuizen.
He is a four-time Ryder Cup player, featuring three times on European soil, while his sole appearance on home turf came at Medinah in 2012. Since 2022, Watson has been a part of the LIV Golf tour, and was one of the first players to make the move. He is the captain of RangeGoats GC.
Bubba Watson | An Overview
Personal Information
Name: Gerry Lester ‘Bubba’ Watson Jr.
Born: November 5, 1978
Nationality: United States
Residence: Pensacola, Florida, United States
Career
College: Faulkner State C.C. / University of Georgia
Turned Pro: 2002
Professional Wins: 14
Highest World Ranking: 2 – February 22, 2015
Best Results In Majors
Best Finishes:
– Masters Tournament – WON (2012, 2014)
– PGA Championship – 2nd (2010)
– US Open – T5 (2007)
– Open Championship – T23 (2012)
Professional Wins – 14
2008 (1) – CVS Caremark Charity Classic
2010 (1) – Travelers Championship
2011 (2) – Farmers Insurance Open, Zurich Classic of New Orleans
2012 (1) – Masters Tournament
2014 (3) – Northern Trust Open, Masters Tournament, WGC-HSBC Champions
2015 (2) – Travelers Championship, Hero World Challenge
2016 (1) – Northern Trust Open
2018 (3) – Genesis Open, WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, Travelers Championship
Bubba Watson | What’s In His Bag?
Watson has been a PING staff player for the majority of his career, with that infamous pink driver being one of his key clubs for years. That is the G425 LST, along with a G425 Max fairway woods. He uses the S55 irons, along with a trio of Glide wedges. A PLD Anser D putter and the Titleist Pro V1x ball round out Watson’s bag.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bubba Watson
When and where was Bubba Watson born?
Bubba Watson was born in November 1978 in Bagdad, Florida, United States. He grew up playing the game and played for Milton High School’s golf team. He played alongside Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum, both fellow PGA Tour players, during his time there.
When did Bubba Watson turn professional?
Bubba Watson turned professional in 2002 after spending time at both Faulkner State C.C. and the University of Georgia during his college years. He spent his first three seasons as a professional on the Nationwide (now Korn Ferry) Tour.
How many PGA Tour titles has Bubba Watson won?
As of early 2024, Bubba Watson is a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, including two victories at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National. He has also won multiple times at the Travelers Championship and the Genesis (formerly Northern Trust) Open.
Who is Bubba Watson married to?
Bubba Watson is married to Angie Ball, with the pair wed in 2004. Angie is a former Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) player. After retiring from the game, she has managed the business side of Watson’s golf career. The pair have two children, Caleb and Dakota, whom they have adopted.
Did you Know?
Best Recovery Shot Ever?
Watson’s first major victory came at the Masters Tournament in 2012. He faced off with Louis Oosthuizen in a sudden death play-off, with both men parring the 18th hole to kick it off. On the 10th, the second play-off hole, Watson hit his drive into the pine straw right. He then produced one of the best golf shots of all time, turning the ball more than 40 yards from left to right to find the 10th green. He would make par and beat Oosthuizen to take the title.
April 8, 2012: On this date 8 years ago…
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) April 8, 2020
The Masters
• Bubba Watson pulls a huge drive into the trees right of the 10th fairway on the 2nd hole of the sudden-death playoff.
Next shot: "Did it hook? OH WHAT A SHOT!"
Cash that 50-1 ticket : pic.twitter.com/9ANndGjlQJ
Ryder Cup Drought
Watson has played in four Ryder Cups for Team USA. However he has never been on the winning side in the competition. He played at Celtic Manor in 2010, Medinah in 2012, Gleneagles in 2014 and Le Golf National in 2018, with Europe winning all four.
Golf Boys
Watson was part of the infamous ‘Golf Boys’ boy band. Ben Crane, Hunter Mahan and Rickie Fowler were the other members of the group.
Bubba’s Sweet Spot
Watson owns a sweet shop in his hometown of Pensacola in Florida. Called Bubba’s Sweet Spot, the shop sells candy, sweets and ice cream.
Other Bubba Watson Articles
‘Gosh, half the year I think about it’: Bubba is dreaming about the Masters hat-trick
Give us 10 spots: Bubba Watson maps out LIV’s route to the majors
Watson: LIV Golf is ‘the bigger dog on campus’
Forget world ranking points! Bubba Watson wants something else for LIV Golf
What would you make of Bubba Watson’s career so far? Let us know your thoughts on the left-hander with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
Matt Coles
Mention a European country, and Matt will tell you which resorts make the National Club Golfer Top 100s: European Resorts list. He might even throw in who designed the golf course and how many rooms the hotel has got at each one…
Matt got into the game of golf from a young age, following his old man to the local golf club. He fell for the sport, and now can’t seem to go a day without thinking about how to improve his game (Thanks Dad!). Matt has been a member of Howley Hall GC in Leeds since 2020, and is just about managing to maintain a single-figure handicap. He likes to remind people that he once broke 75, but won’t tell people that it was on a shortened course during the winter.
He moved to Leeds after graduating from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class Honours degree in Sports Journalism. Matt joined NCG after almost five years travelling the world with the Professional Squash Association, working on events in all four corners of the globe.
Matt currently plays a Cobra King LTDx driver and RadSpeed 3-wood. TaylorMade monopolise the rest of his bag, with a SIM UDI, M5 irons and both Milled Grind and HI-TOE wedges, along with a Monza Redline putter. He uses a Vice Pro Plus golf ball, because he’s a bit different…
Away from golf, Matt is a Manchester United fan, and a keen runner, having ran the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon (his first and possibly last), in May 2023.
