Bubba Watson said he didn’t like changes to the golf ball. Then he passed out
Posted by Nick Piastowski March 18, 2023
Bubba Watson tees Friday on the 18th hole at Tucson LIV Golf.
Getty Images
Bubba Watson was asked what he thought of the proposed changes to the golf ball and gave the name.
“Justin Thomas,” said Watson.
“I don’t like it. That’s pretty much what he said.”
‘It annoys me’: Justin Thomas criticizes proposed ball rollback in three-minute ‘rant’ By Jessica Marksbury
Opinions on this matter seem to be easy to find. On Tuesday, the USGA and R&A submitted a proposal that includes a Model Local Rule that—for tours and championships that accept it—would effectively bounce the golf ball and introduce a bifurcation, i.e. creating a different set of rules for pros and better amateurs against the rest of the golf world. And the takes came, including one from Thomas, who on Wednesday delivered a three-minute tirade – his word – to the opposition.
On Thursday, ahead of the second LIV Golf of the year, Watson agreed to the roast. Then he was asked why, and the two-time Masters winner had some thoughts.
His answer was about 275 words long and included a little bit of everything.
He talked about “commerce”.
“Well, there are many reasons,” Watson began, “but first, commercialism is what pays all these bills for the USGA and all these other organizations, and now you are asking them to spend millions to change the ball or create a new ball. and do it all. Why?”
Then he went in a different direction and talked about creating drivers that go straight and further.
“Pro golfers are a small minute in the game of golf in general, who all play it, so why not make a driver that allows some guy to hit straighter and further,” he said. “Make a ball that allows a guy or a woman, baby, to hit further.”
A dummies guide to the new golf ball rules. Author: Dylan Dethier.
He then spoke about fellow LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau.
“Just because you’re hitting further doesn’t mean he’s going to go straighter,” Watson said. “I’m not trying to throw Bryson under the bus, but Bryson tried to do something, he did it, but slowed down a bit. He still hits the farthest, but slowed down a little because he realized that your misses are farther – because I have experienced this for a while; my misses continue.
He then said that golf is the only sport that makes a difference.
“Going back to the ball, I just don’t understand why,” Watson said. “We’re the only sport that changes what we do, and we get mad when a guy throws 10th under for three days in a row, but we rejoice when a guy hits 50 or hits three home runs or four home runs, a guy hits seven touchdowns. We celebrate it. We don’t force him, hey, you can’t make that many passes in the next game. So why are we messing with it?”
He then said that you should not mess with a good thing.
“The sport is at an all-time high, so let’s not mess with it, let’s just keep it going,” Watson said.
This is my short answer.
Really. Then at a press conference, Watson and fellow LIV golfer Harold Varner were asked if they saw a situation where they would refuse to play another ball in a major tournament.
“First I will ask my sponsor if I can do it, and then I will gladly play this ball if they let me,” Watson said. “If I’m in a Major…”
“I’ll play whatever they tell me,” Varner said.
“Or if LIV says you should play that ball, then…” Watson said.
“That’s the only thing that turns me on about this whole ball thing,” Varner said. “Everyone complains about millions of dollars, there is a lot of money, but if they change the golf ball and give you a golf ball, we will play with a golf ball.”
Watson then said that truckers would still be truckers.
“Corey Pavin,” he said, “I am not trying to call Corey Pavin. Zach Johnson, Jim Furyk…
“Harold mentioned you in that conversation,” the reporter said.
“It’s all right,” Watson said.
“Hey, I didn’t see him play tomorrow,” Varner said. “He is old and decrepit.
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Nick Piastowski Golf.com Editor
Nick Piastowski is Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Magazine. In his role, he is responsible for editing, writing and developing golf stories. And when he’s not writing about ways to hit a golf ball farther and more accurately, the Milwaukee native is probably playing the game of hitting the ball left, right, and short, and drinking cold beer to clear his score. You can contact him about any of these topics – his stories, his game or his beer – at nick.piastowski@golf.com.
