Bubba Watson is in urgent need of a reality check after an appaling attitude display during his appearance at this week’s pretigious French Open in Versailles.
Watson hurled all the toys out of the pram in blaming photographers, marshals and spectators in posting a second straight 74 for a six over par tally on the 2018 Ryder Cup host venue
The World No. 12 managed just three birdies but also four bogeys and an 11th hole double bogey in what will no doubt be his first and probably only appearance in France.
Bubba Watson complaining after missing the cut in his likely first and last French Open appearance. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“It’s just been different. It’s not a normal tournament. It’s just different for me,” he said.
“There’s cameras, there’s phones, there’s everything. No security. I don’t know which holes to walk through. There’s no ropes. It’s just different. I’m not used to that.
“I’m not saying it’s bad. I’m just saying it’s something I’m not used to it.
“I’m not comfortable and it’s very strange to me, and just very uncomfortable.”
Watson is 32 years of age. He’s married to a former star basketballer and he’s been used to travel, and not just two British Open appearances and last year’s Ryder Cup.
Earlier in his career, he competed in Australia. Funny there was no such concerns then.
Watson was very much the topic of conversation in the locker room with one caddy reputed to have hurled abuse at Watson suggesting he goes back to where he came from.
Within an hour of Watson’s remarks there appeared some six pages on ‘Twitter’ crictising the manners of the visiting American.
“Gary Player and Ernie Els are in the Royal Box at Wimbledon. Will Nicolas Sarkozy be joined by Bubba Watson tomorrow?
“Bubba Watson – you pork chop”
“Bubba if you love home so much does that mean you are missing The Open. Here’s hoping!”
Funny thing that not once did Watson complain about the presence of cameras on the course.
He also hardly went out of his way to connect with the crowd despite being applauded often for many good shots.
Tournament Director, David Probyn later agreed conditions are a lot more relaxed in Europe than on the PGA Tour but did reveal the Tour was looking at adopting the PGA policy of specific ‘mobile phone areas’.
But on the whole Probyn played down Watson’s other concerns.
“My dealings this week with Bubba was to welcome him on the first hole for the Pro-Am to let him know he was very welcome,” he said.
“But we are constantly reviewing crowd matters but week in week out it’s not a problem, and we also don’t have 1,200 volunteers like they have at every event in the States.
“And for the most part our players are particularly happy to walk through the crowd if they have to but there’s always ropes lines.”
Watson’s won three times on the PGA Tour including twice this year while he was a member of last year’s losing USA Ryder Cup team.
He’s the fifth member the Celtic Manor losing side to this year play on the European Tour after Phil Mickelson (Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship), Steve Stricker (Qatar Masters), Tiger Woods (Dubai Desert Classic) and Dustin Johnson (Ballantine’s Championship and BMW International Open).
Mickelson, Stricker, Woods to a degree (before the spitting incident) and Johnson were each affable, approachable and obliging.
Well before today’s second round, Watson and his manager had thrown up a virtual brick wall up in front of media requests while there’s been no hint of conducting any sort of clinic for juniors or whatever given he signed a contract worth a reputed $US 200,000 to compete in the French capital.
His ignorance also of one of world’s great cities has also been appalling.
Watson made next to no little effort to familiarise himself with any of the famed Paris landmarks.
He described the Eiffel Tower as ‘that big tower’, the Arc de Triomphe as ‘an arch in the middle of the road’, the Louvre as ‘this building that starts with an L’ and the downgraded the Versailles Palace to ‘that castle next to where I’m staying’.
Watson was born in Baghdad, Florida and wore camouflage trousers at the recent U.S. Open no doubt in memory of his late father who was a Green Beret, and as recognition of the work the U.S. and other nations are undertaking in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Maybe what Watson needs to do is travel to Baghdad, Iraq for an urgent reality check.
