Watson Doubles Up on Masters Wins

Bubba Watson is a fan favorite in the golf world. People love the fact he doesn't watch his golf swing. People love his admiration for family. People love he has a General Lee car, a pink driver and a hovercraft. But after the 2012 Masters, Watson's play dipped a little bit. He couldn't win a tournament, and struggled a bit in the majors.  Watson broke through with another win at the Northern Trust Open early this year after blowing the Phoenix Waste Management Open. Bubba once again took control of the Augusta National course and became the ninth golfer to win multiple Masters.

Watson's second Masters wins pales in comparison to his first one. Watson won the first one by coming back on Sunday being down three strokes to Peter Hanson and force a playoff with Louis Oosthuizen to win it with a great shot from the pinestraw that will be remembered for years. This year, Watson made the final round boring by not slipping up and playing at the next level delivering his third round in the 60's, not one golfer other than Bubba had more than one. There is a reason he won again at Augusta. 

Given how Watson's been rather subpar at different majors, can we agree Watson might be one of those players that will always play Augusta National well and will be in contention until age 55?   He had one top five at the U.S. Open in 2007 at Oakmont, he has never finished in the top 10 at the Open Championship and he had a second place finish in 2010 losing in a playoff to Martin Kaymer. This is not to take away from Watson's career rather point out that he might be one of those golfers with one major championship he adores versus being good in all of them. Does that make Watson a lesser golfer? No because not many of the considered great golfers are winning majors. 

There is a wealth of American talent in the golf game besides the stalwarts of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, but only four of them - Jason Dufner, Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Watson have major championships. Watson now is the only one whom holds two major wins.  He is an older American talent at age 35, and many guys are younger yet Watson is one of the few to breakout from the muddle group of Americans all vying for their first major win. He definitely has made a name for himself and moved into a different echelon of golfer.  If Watson could find a way to win another major here and there, he becomes one of the greats, but right now, he becomes the new owner of Augusta National, something both a guy named Tiger and Phil have previously owned.  

Even though he finished second, Jordan Spieth made a name for himself and went from a guy, golf fans swooned over to a probable new casual fan favorite. Spieth is 20 years old and led The Masters. The best thing I did at 20 is avoid getting kicked out of my dorm floor. Spieth played some great golf early on in the round, and then it was like 'Holy shit, I am winning The Masters, what the hell am I doing?'  Spieth got tight and it became a four stroke difference with two bogeys while Watson made two straight birdies. Spieth let his emotions get the best of him, but it is apparent Spieth is closer than we think to winning his first major. He will be there again at Pinehurst.  

Watson takes home the first major of the season as Woods and Mickelson did not challenge at all on a Sunday for the first time in a long while. It almost felt like a changing of the guard that we need to get more used to in the majors to come this season and the following ones. 

Charlie.