The best golfer from every U.S. state

Florida: Bubba Watson

This might be somewhat of a controversial pick, but it’s one that I’m ultimately going to stand by. Bubba Watson has never been the picture of consistency throughout his time on the PGA Tour. However, the Bagdad, FL native and Pensacola resident has proven that, when he’s on his game, he can compete with the best in the world. Most recently, he proved just that with a dominant performance at the 2018 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play championship where he emerged as the lone victor.

That win in the match play format gave Watson his 11th PGA Tour victory of his career, which he joined in 2006. However, he didn’t earn his first win on the tour until June 2010 when he was able to edge out Corey Pavin and Scott Verplank in a playoff at the Travelers Championship.

Watson came close to winning his first major championship that season as he forced a playoff with Martin Kaymer at the 2010 PGA Championship. He birdied the first hole to take a lead on the three-hole aggregate early on, but Kaymer tied it up with a birdie of his own on the second and then won it as Watson bogied the third.

However, Watson was able to capture two green jackets at The Masters, winning in a playoff with Louis Oosthuizen in 2012 and by three strokes in 72 holes in 2014. What’s more, he has a best finish of tied for fifth at the U.S. Open to his credit. And at 39 years old, there’s reason to believe there’s plenty more victories and high-quality golf ahead for Watson.