Top-20 American players to watch out for in 2012: Part-7
Bubba Watson
Official World Golf Rankings: 21
FedExCup Rankings: 26
PGA Tour wins in 2011: 2
Long-hitting Bubba Watson has come a long way this year, winning no fewer than two events through the 11-month stretch on the tour. Known for his longest drives on the PGA Tour, (416 Yard drive in Sony Open in 2010 and 422 Yard drive on Nationwide Tour),
Watson has emerged as the new threat on the tour, after playing for a painstakingly long tenure. Watson won the season starter Farmers Insurance Open on January 30, his second PGA title, when he defeated Phil Mickelson by one shot.
Watson turned professional in 2003 after graduating from Faulkner State Community College University of Georgia and joined the Nationwide Tour. He played on the Nationwide till the end of 2005, finishing 21st on the money list, barely qualifying
for the PGA Tour Card. Watson played brilliantly in 2007 US Open, finishing for a strong joint fifth and finally won his first PGA Tour title in 2010 at Cromwell, Connecticut at the Travelers Championship. The colourfully clad Watson defeated the raging tour
veterans Corey Pavin and Scott Verplank, on sudden-death Playoff and broke into tears. He dedicated his long-awaited victory to his family and father who was fighting a dreadful cancer.
A rejuvenated Watson, played stunning golf in season’s last major the PGA Championship where he finished runners up behind the champion Martin Kaymer. Watson and Kaymer finished even-par and the match was decided on the third Playoff hole, where Kaymer defeated
the American by one shot.
Watson landed his third PGA Tour title on May 1 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, again on a Playoff where he took over the young Webb Simpson on the second Playoff hole.
The 33-year-old American has closed the season with 22 appearances on the tour. He made the halfway cut in 19 of them posting three top-ten finishes. His total earnings for the year amounts to $3,477,811 in all.
Watson was also featured in golf’s only boy band, “The Golf Boys” which featured Jim Furyk, Rickie Fowler and Hunter Mahan. The band also released its debut song and album a few months ago and declared that the returns from the band will proceed to charitable
organizations. The band has an insanely famous Youtube video “Oh oh oh” featuring all four accomplished golfers, donned with hilarious outfits. Farmers Insurance has vowed to donate $1000 for every 100,000 views of the video, returns of which will proceed
to both Farmer’s Insurance and Ben Crane’s charitable organisation.
Watson also made reckless comments on his return from a European Tour event from France where he lashed out at the security arrangements on the course. He blamed the authorities for not providing enough security to the players and said that he was distracted
on numerous events while trying to make a shot.
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