AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bubba Watson remembers well Tiger Woods’ last Masters victory in 2019. He also marshaled a group of players in the Augusta National Golf Club champions locker room to walk outside the clubhouse and congratulate him for his fifth and most improbable Masters victory.
It’s why Watson got emotional on Monday, April 6, after a Masters practice round at Augusta National when asked about the absence of Woods, who has headed to rehab after his arrest on March 27 in Jupiter, Florida, for an accident in which he was charged with DUI and was found to have prescription drugs in his pocket.
Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson chips onto the second green on April 6 during a Masters practice round at the Augusta National Golf Club.
“I could care less about Tiger’s golf,” Watson said. “I’m pulling for him as a human being. Forget his golf. Anybody who’s struggling with anything, I feel for him because I’ve [gone] through a lot of mental stuff. I always pull for him.”
Advertisement
Watson said he encouraged the past champions in 2019 to leave the locker room and find Woods behind the clubhouse. Other players such as Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler also were seen congratulating Woods.
“That was emotional,” Watson said, adding that Woods has made it a point since then to tell him how much he appreciated the gesture.
Watson said he told Woods after winning in 2019 that he wanted to be here “for his next major.”
But Watson said Woods is chasing something more elusive than golf championships.
“Nothing but love for him, and hopefully he can come back stronger,” Watson said.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Masters champ Bubba Watson pulling for Tiger Woods ‘as a human being’
Read the full article here
