Bubba Watson is the second-highest ranked player in the field for the Bob Hope Classic, which begins Wednesday in La Quinta.
Watson, 32, tied for second at this tournament a year ago to kick off a season that was marked by professional accomplishments — winning his first PGA Tour event and playing for the U.S. in the Ryder Cup — and personal tragedy.
All season long, Watson communicated via Twitter the emotional struggles he was facing as his father, Gerry, battled lung cancer. Gerry passed away last fall but not before keeping track of Bubba during the Ryder Cup.
His last hole of golf at that major might have been a bit of a disaster — he drove into the rough, then hit into water and finally hit the flagstick on a bogey try that would have extended the playoff — but his postgame emotions were weepy and joyful.
Watson, 32, tied for second at this tournament a year ago to kick off a season that was marked by professional accomplishments — winning his first PGA Tour event and playing for the U.S. in the Ryder Cup — and personal tragedy.
All season long, Watson communicated via Twitter the emotional struggles he was facing as his father, Gerry, battled lung cancer. Gerry passed away last fall but not before keeping track of Bubba during the Ryder Cup.
His last hole of golf at that major might have been a bit of a disaster — he drove into the rough, then hit into water and finally hit the flagstick on a bogey try that would have extended the playoff — but his postgame emotions were weepy and joyful.