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.
Showing posts with label bubba watson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bubba watson. Show all posts
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, April 24, 2009
Predictions...
It's been a while so I never got to point out the fact that I correctly predicted the NCAA tournament participants and outcome before the tournament started (two posts below). Of the 64 teams, I bulls-eyed the final two standing. Not too many people in the sports world took Michigan State all the way to the championship game, so I think I'll pat myself on the back. Good Job Ian!
As for my dark horse at the Masters, Bubba made the cut but fell off over the last two rounds. He finished 42nd, 13 shots behind the eventual winner as he wasn't able to put a good weekend round together. However, he did eagle #13 and #15 (just like I said he was capable of) on Friday to help him make the cut. So the ability is there, now he needs the consistency. Maybe next time big boy!
As for my dark horse at the Masters, Bubba made the cut but fell off over the last two rounds. He finished 42nd, 13 shots behind the eventual winner as he wasn't able to put a good weekend round together. However, he did eagle #13 and #15 (just like I said he was capable of) on Friday to help him make the cut. So the ability is there, now he needs the consistency. Maybe next time big boy!
Friday, March 27, 2009
March Madness and the Carolina strangle-hold
As I sit here watching the UNC-Gonzaga game, I've come to realize that Ty Lawson is a pretty good ball player. And by good, I mean the best I've seen at the college level in a few years. When that kid is in the line-up, I can't see anyone beating the Tar Heels.
Regardless of how good they are, the fact is Carolina is leading by 22 right now, yet CBS is opting to show this game rather than Michigan State-Kansas, a two-point game with under 20 seconds left. I can't stand the regional strangle-hold that teams like Carolina and Duke have on this state.
What's the big deal with showing the last 20 seconds of a great game before showing the last five minutes of a blow-out. After all, that's what March Madness is all about. Great basketball. Sure, there will be some lop-sided games. But once they reach that point, let's be content with checking in every now and then so we can watch some competitive basketball.
As good as Ty Lawson is, I don't care about him scoring his 30th point in a 20-point win as much as I do seeing a game-winning shot in a less regionally important game.
So get it together CBS. Show us the truly important moments of the big dance.
*In an additional note, my dark horse for The Masters, Bubba Watson, failed to make the cut this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (shot a poor +7... internal "uh oh"). Let's hope he can get his game together in the next two weeks.
Regardless of how good they are, the fact is Carolina is leading by 22 right now, yet CBS is opting to show this game rather than Michigan State-Kansas, a two-point game with under 20 seconds left. I can't stand the regional strangle-hold that teams like Carolina and Duke have on this state.
What's the big deal with showing the last 20 seconds of a great game before showing the last five minutes of a blow-out. After all, that's what March Madness is all about. Great basketball. Sure, there will be some lop-sided games. But once they reach that point, let's be content with checking in every now and then so we can watch some competitive basketball.
As good as Ty Lawson is, I don't care about him scoring his 30th point in a 20-point win as much as I do seeing a game-winning shot in a less regionally important game.
So get it together CBS. Show us the truly important moments of the big dance.
*In an additional note, my dark horse for The Masters, Bubba Watson, failed to make the cut this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (shot a poor +7... internal "uh oh"). Let's hope he can get his game together in the next two weeks.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
It's the most wonderful time of the year...
It has begun.
This stretch of days from mid-March to mid-April serves as my favorite time of the sports year. In the next month, we will experience all the drama that makes the sporting world so great. Underdogs will rise, miracles will come to fruition, and champions will be crowned.
It all started half an hour ago with the tip-off of Butler and LSU to signal the start of the big dance. The NCAA basketball tourney is without question one of the most dramatic events in all of sports. Anybody can beat anybody and the little minnows are given a chance to take their shots at the whales of college basketball. Forget the NBA, those overpaid babies don't know what it's all about. This is basketball at its best. The passion displayed by these 64 teams over the next 3 weeks will be enough to last the pros for the next 10 years. Of course, like the rest of the world, I've filled out my bracket and North Carolina is my national champion. I don't really care for the Heels too much, but as long as Ty Lawson doesn't miss more than the first weekend, it's their tournament to lose.
But hey who knows? Nobody. Who called little George Mason going to the Final Four 3 years ago? Provide me that bracket and I'll eat my words.
*My dark horse for the tournament: Michigan State. Tom Izzo has the Spartans playing some good ball right now. But they're not getting much love. I've got them in the championship, falling to Carolina.
In perfect form, the end of the NCAA tournament leads right into my favorite yearly sporting event: The Masters. I say yearly because I must confess the World Cup is my undisputed favorite, but I have to wait 4 years for that one. But there's nothing that beats The Masters. Golf at its highest form. Everyone knows the course, the holes. I can tell you the ins and outs of every single fairway and green at Augusta National. It's the most dramatic golf tournament in the world and it seems to always come down to the back 9 on Sunday. If I could, I would plop myself on the couch and watch The Masters from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and honestly not feel like I'd wasted a second of my day. For me, there's nothing better. Plus, Tiger's back and Phil Mickelson is playing out of his skull right now. The stage is set.
*My dark horse for The Masters: Bubba Watson, the big hitting lefty (and my favorite player... I'm also a south paw) has started 2009 well and performed well last year in his first Masters. If it comes down to the back nine on Sunday, Bubba's got the power to drop two eagles. I'd love to see him in the top 10. If he wins, I'm a prophet and the golf channel needs to get me on the air!
This stretch of days from mid-March to mid-April serves as my favorite time of the sports year. In the next month, we will experience all the drama that makes the sporting world so great. Underdogs will rise, miracles will come to fruition, and champions will be crowned.
It all started half an hour ago with the tip-off of Butler and LSU to signal the start of the big dance. The NCAA basketball tourney is without question one of the most dramatic events in all of sports. Anybody can beat anybody and the little minnows are given a chance to take their shots at the whales of college basketball. Forget the NBA, those overpaid babies don't know what it's all about. This is basketball at its best. The passion displayed by these 64 teams over the next 3 weeks will be enough to last the pros for the next 10 years. Of course, like the rest of the world, I've filled out my bracket and North Carolina is my national champion. I don't really care for the Heels too much, but as long as Ty Lawson doesn't miss more than the first weekend, it's their tournament to lose.
But hey who knows? Nobody. Who called little George Mason going to the Final Four 3 years ago? Provide me that bracket and I'll eat my words.
*My dark horse for the tournament: Michigan State. Tom Izzo has the Spartans playing some good ball right now. But they're not getting much love. I've got them in the championship, falling to Carolina.
In perfect form, the end of the NCAA tournament leads right into my favorite yearly sporting event: The Masters. I say yearly because I must confess the World Cup is my undisputed favorite, but I have to wait 4 years for that one. But there's nothing that beats The Masters. Golf at its highest form. Everyone knows the course, the holes. I can tell you the ins and outs of every single fairway and green at Augusta National. It's the most dramatic golf tournament in the world and it seems to always come down to the back 9 on Sunday. If I could, I would plop myself on the couch and watch The Masters from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and honestly not feel like I'd wasted a second of my day. For me, there's nothing better. Plus, Tiger's back and Phil Mickelson is playing out of his skull right now. The stage is set.
*My dark horse for The Masters: Bubba Watson, the big hitting lefty (and my favorite player... I'm also a south paw) has started 2009 well and performed well last year in his first Masters. If it comes down to the back nine on Sunday, Bubba's got the power to drop two eagles. I'd love to see him in the top 10. If he wins, I'm a prophet and the golf channel needs to get me on the air!
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