Bubbaclaus is here!

There's something particularly vindicating about getting in early. Whether it be investing in a small business just before it comes up with its million dollar idea, loyally following a local band before they explode into that #1 hit, or in my case, supporting an underdog athlete for years before finally making his breakthrough.

While rising PGA Tour star Bubba Watson's win at last week's Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines (the second win of his career) was certainly a load off his back, in a way, it kind of felt like a victory for me as well. So when this putt fell on the final hole of the tournament, my adoration for the guy who had become the lovable loser came full circle.



With that putt, the golfing world is finally wising up to something i noticed nearly four years ago: this guy can play.

Those who know me have been aware of my support for the big hitting lefty since I first saw him in the 2007 U.S. Open. As a rookie, Bubba finished tied for fifth in one of the year's toughest tournaments, and since that performance, I've followed his career round by round.

My first attraction to Bubba as a golfer was obvious. A lefty myself, I'll follow any player who hits from the "wrong side of the ball." That's why Phil Mickelson was always my favorite growing up, until Bubba came around, of course.

Second, Bubba plays a brand of golf unlike any other on Tour. The man can't define conservative and standing on any given tee, you can see him making a two or an eight. And both would be equally spectacular. Pars are a rarity for Bubba because he always goes for broke. It's exciting golf (two words rarely paired).

Last, he's a 32-year-old seven-year old. Whether he's wielding his trademark pink driver (which he regularly hits 350+ yards as the longest driver on tour) or making silly videos to post online, the guy just loves having fun. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bubba paraded around his local golf course dressed as Santa Claus, hitting shots for the good boys and girls from Bubbaclaus.



Like he says, "I'm just goofy Bubba from Bagdad, Florida." To top it off, he personally responds to every single fan who posts on his twitter account. How can you pull against a guy like this?

In the period since I began watching Bubba, there have been many great tournaments. Tons of top 10's. A handful of second place finishes. But zero wins.

Bubba came close, to no avail, so many times that the media finally noticed the trend and began wondering if the guy could ever live up to his sky-high potential and get a PGA Tour win. As his fan, I wondered too.

Bubba's moment finally came last summer when he erased a six shot, final round deficit to win his first tournament, the Travelers, in a playoff. It was only then in a heap of tears that he revealed his father was losing a battle with cancer while his wife had just escaped a cancer scare of her own. With all that bearing down on him, Bubba, who already suffers from attention disorders, delivered his first title, for his family.



But the fact that neither Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson played in the Travelers left Bubba's victory feeling empty, to the media at least. A second-place finish at the PGA Championship and a Ryder Cup appearance weren't even enough to open people's eyes as Bubba was left facing serious questions entering 2011. It would take beating them both while winning the tournament to show everyone he was the real deal.

And that's exactly what he did Sunday. With Tiger floundering to a 75, and Mickelson snapping at his heels the whole way, Bubba posted his breakthrough win in San Diego. And I believe there's much more to come, including victories in Majors.

The first time I saw Bubba at the '07 open, he was ranked #237 in the world. This time last year, #122. Today, Bubba is the 18th ranked golfer in the entire world. And trust me, he's nowhere near his peak yet.

Not bad for goofy Bubba from Bagdad Florida.