PGA 2013 Report Card: Bubba Watson

As we inch ever closer to the beginning of the PGA 2013 Major Championship Season, it’s time to take a closer look at the 2012 Master’s Champion, Bubba Watson. Although, the Masters was the only win for the kid from Bagdad….Florida in the 2012 season, it was a big one to say the least.

In all due respect, he did have some decent finishes last year, but after his infamous hooking nine iron that found the tenth green at Augusta, he missed the cut at the US Open. He said the course didn’t fit his eye, hey…the Olympic club was tough, and he had mediocre finishes at both the British Open, and the PGA Championship. He garnered a T 23rd place at a +2 over par total at Royal Lytham, and was respectful at Kiawah Island where he finished T 9.

With all of that in the rear view mirror, Bubba hasn’t been able to crack the winners circle in 2013, but after getting the Flu prior to the Tournament of Champions, he was able to take home $304,000, and a tie for 4th place. He finished alone in 15th position at Phoenix, and was tied 18 last weekend at Doral, but missed the cut in Los Angeles. I don’t think the California courses fit his eye. He made it to the quarter finals at the Accenture Match Play, and after all is said and done, had an OK  spring.

"“I was getting lazy and my swing was coming inside, I was coming over the top and I was doing all these crazy things where I was hitting shots I’m not used to hitting, like way off the planet.”"

Bubba Watson is currently in 32nd place in FedEx Cup points after five appearances on the season. He is 983 points back of leader, Brandt Snedeker, a position that can change rapidly at this time of year if he can catch a win soon. He has dropped into 13 place on the OWGR, and is in 31st place on the PGA Money List.

Now that the tour has reached the Florida Swing, Bubba is back on home turf, where he is familiar with the golf courses, greens, and grasses in this part of the world. He was raised in Florida, and lives in Orlando, so I’m expecting him to break out either at Tampa, which is just up I-4 from home, and/or Bay Hill, which is home. If he starts to play a little better over the next two weeks, I will feel a little better about him being able to defend when he gets to Augusta.

Even though he has his first major on his resume, I think he is still a good second tier professional golfer. I’m not sure he will be able to overcome the Perfect Storm that will arrive at Augusta National next month. He, like Charl Schwartzel, fell into a bit of luck last year, and hit an unbelievable shot at the right time to get his Green Jacket. I think there will be too much fire power at Augusta this year for him to repeat.

Follow us on Twitter @ProGolfNow