Bubba Watson - Genesis Open Win

Bubba Watson - Genesis Open Win

Bubba Watson, now in his 40th year, was plagued with doubts about his future in golf. He thought seriously about retiring, discussing this many times with his wife. His health was deteriorating and he was losing weight at an alarming rate. In 2016 he had won the Northern Trust Open, here at the Riviera. Then during 2017 he was winless through the entire PGA Tour and missed the cut at three of the four major championships. His world golf ranking plummeted.

“I was close [to retiring],” he said. “My wife was not close. My wife basically told me to quit whining and play golf. I would rather be healthy than play golf, so that’s what I was focusing on."

The colourful, self-taught, left-handed golfer, known for his long drives with that flamingo pink driver, closed his final round at the 2018 Genesis Open with a two-under 69 to win by two shots from Tony Finau and Kevin Na, with a final tally of 12-under-par.

With this, his tenth PGA Tour title, Bubba Watson has vaulted from No. 117 to No. 41 in world golf ranking and as a three time winner at the Riviera he joins golf legends such as Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan and Lloyd Mangrum.

After the race an emotional Watson seemed close to tears. “Nobody thought that Bubba Watson from Bagdad, Florida, would ever get to 10 wins. Let’s be honest. Without lessons, head case, hooking the ball, slicing the ball, can’t putt, you know?”

Watson and his wife Angie have two children, Caleb and Dakota, whom they adopted. Following his win at the Riviera Watson has signed on as ambassador for the 'Jockey Being Family' Foundation. The foundation provides resources and support to post-adoption groups, to help strengthen adoptive families. More than 325,000 families have been helped by the foundation so far.