(born November 5, 1978) is an American professional golfer. Watson is one of the few left-handed golfers on tour. He is ranked in the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings.
Amateur career
Watson was born in Bagdad, Florida. He played golf for Faulkner State Community College in Alabama, where he was a junior college All-American. After that he played golf at the University of Georgia in 2000 and 2001. While at Georgia, he helped lead the Bulldogs to a Southeastern Conference Championship in 2000.
Professional career
Watson turned professional in 2003 and joined the Nationwide Tour where he would play until 2005. He finished 21st on the Nationwide Tour's money list in 2005, making him the last player to qualify for the 2006 PGA Tour. As a rookie on the PGA Tour, he earned $1,019,264 (90th overall) and led the PGA Tour in driving distance (319.6 yards). His longest ever drive on the PGA Tour was a 416 yard drive at the 2010 Sony Open.
Watson played well at the 2007 U.S. Open. He was in the final group on the Saturday after shooting rounds of 70-71 (+1) at Oakmont Country Club. He was one stroke off the lead at the start of the third round but then slipped, shooting 74 (+4) in the third and fourth rounds. He finished in a tie for fifth.
Watson claimed his first PGA Tour win on June 27, 2010 in Cromwell, Connecticut at the Travelers Championship in a two-hole sudden death playoff, beating Corey Pavin and Scott Verplank. Watson tearfully dedicated the win to his parents, specifically his father who is battling cancer.
On August 15, 2010, Watson entered a three-hole aggregate playoff with Martin Kaymer to determine the winner of the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. When the final group walked off the 18th hole, it was thought there would be three men in the playoff, but it was soon discovered that Dustin Johnson had grounded his club while in a bunker playing his second shot right of the fairway on 18. Johnson incurred a two-stroke penalty, which in turn eliminated him from the playoff. Watson birdied the first playoff hole (#10), while Kaymer parred it. On the second playoff hole (#17), Kaymer made a birdie while Watson carded a par. The two men stepped onto the final hole (#18) of the playoff tied at one under par (-1). After two wayward drives by the players, both yielding poor lies, Watson proceeded to hit his second shot into Seven Mile Creek in front of the 18th green. Kaymer chipped his second shot back into the fairway. From the fairway, Kaymer put his ball 10 feet from the hole, while Watson hit his 4th shot over the green. Watson chipped his 5th shot from the bunker behind the green, which hit the flagstick and stopped 5 feet from the hole. Watson made double bogey on the final hole, and Kaymer two-putted for bogey to win the championship.
Watson had his own clothing line called Bubba Golf at the former Steve & Barry's. He was invited on the Ellen Degeneres show after he sent her a video of a golf trick shot he completed for her for her birthday.
Professional wins
PGA Tour wins (1)
No. Date Tournament Winning Score Margin of Victory Runner(s)-up
1 June 27, 2010 Travelers Championship -14 (65-68-67-66=266) Playoff Corey Pavin, Scott Verplank
PGA Tour playoff record (1-1)
No. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 2010 Travelers Championship Corey Pavin, Scott Verplank Won with par on second playoff hole
(Pavin was eliminated with par on first playoff hole).
2 2010 PGA Championship Martin Kaymer Lost three-hole aggregate playoff: Kaymer 4-2-5=11 (E), Watson 3-3-6=12 (+1)
Other wins (1)
2008 CVS Caremark Charity Classic (with Camilo Villegas)
Results in major championships
Tournament 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
The Masters DNP DNP DNP DNP T20 42
U.S. Open CUT DNP DNP T5 CUT T18
The Open Championship DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP CUT
PGA Championship DNP DNP DNP CUT 70 CUT
Tournament 2010
The Masters DNP
U.S. Open DNP
The Open Championship CUT
PGA Championship 2
DNP = did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
(source:wikipedia)
No comments:
Post a Comment