It was yet another emotional moment for Bubba Watson as he put paid to a grueling encounter at the 2014 Masters Tournament. After world number one Tiger Woods withdrew from the competition, Bubba wasn’t listed as one of three hopefuls to replace Woods. Watson did however, sail through the overwhelming scrutiny of his every move from the media and fans to claim the title. It was only his second green jacket in the Augusta masters in 3 years having won his previous in 2012.
Bubba Watson used a steady putter and prodigious drive to overcome 20-year old Jordan Spieth and win his second Masters Tournament title in fewer attempts than any golfer since Arnold Palmer, 54 years. Watson shot a 3-under-par 69 yesterday – taking fewer putts than all but two players in the field – to pull away for a three-stroke win at Augusta national golf club in Georgia.
He finished with a four-round total of 8 under 280, preventing Spieth from becoming the youngest player to win one the sport’s major championships since 1931. Spieth and fellow Masters rookie Jonas Blixt of Sweden finished 5 under par. Watson is the 17th golfer to claim multiple Masters Titles, and only Horton Smith, who captured the first and third tournaments in 1934 and 1936, got two wins in fewer attempts.
This is just Watson’s second of his four Masters titles in six attempts equaling the effort of Arnold Palmer in 1960. Bubba Watson, unsurprisingly, was in high heavens after winning at the Augusta Maters Tournament. “A small town guy named Bubba now has two green jackets, it’s pretty wild.” Watson, 35, said in his post-victory interview after he was presented with the ceremonial blazer given to Masters Champions.
Watson, who entered yesterday’s final round tied for the lead with Spieth at 5 under, received $1.62 million for his sixth career win. He rebounded from a third-round 74 to equal the largest margin of victory at the Masters since a 12-stroke win by Tiger Woods in 1997. Watson, in a similar reaction in 2012, started crying as he hugged his caddie after his final putt for a par on the 18th green. Watson then picked his 2-year old son, Caleb, and embraced his wife Angie before taking a celebratory lap.
Watson finished his round with five straight pars, including one at the par-5 15th where he punched a 6-iron under overhanging trees and over a pond instead of playing safe and taking a potential penalty out of play. When his caddie, Ted Scott, was asked to describe Watson’s unconventional style of play known as “Bubba Golf,” he called it a “freakshow.” “You can’t describe it any other way,” Scott said. “Every single time I watch him play golf, I’m just like, ‘How do you do that’?”
After being presented the green jacket for a second time, Watson said while the first title felt like luck, the second was a product of hard work and dedication.
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