Masters champion Bubba Watson proudly boasts he’s changed five diapers in the two weeks since he was fitted with an Augusta National green jacket.
Watson is returning to competition for a first occasion since his stunning play-off success over South African Louis Oosthuizen in the Masters.
The American had spent much of the first two days as golf’s newest Major Champion on a whirlwind tour of New York as guest on many TV shows and radio programs.
However in the days that followed Watson has been getting use to life with his wife and their new born adopted son.
“It’s been just tiring, changing diapers,” said Watson pictured holding last year’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans trophy (Photo – www.pgatour.com).
“I’ve actually changed diapers now. Not that I have a count, but it’s only five I’ve changed, and they’ve been easy to change.
“So, that’s been more exciting since then because I’ve been home.
“We’ve had him (Caleb) him for a month, and I’ve been home, I think at the most, nine days, maybe eight days, so we’ve had him for a month, and I’ve only got to see him eight or nine days, so it’s not enough, not a lot.
“So it’s hard leaving him. It was hard leaving today, but that’s the change. That’s the excitement of waking up every morning no matter how tired you are, now matter how red your eyes are, just seeing him pretty much do nothing, just lay there.
“It’s just exciting.”
Watson will tee up as defending champion in this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans having defeated fellow American Webb Simpson in a play-off last year when he birdied the first extra hole after trailing Simpson by three strokes during the final round.
This year’s $US 6.4m event is again being staged on the TPC Louisana course with a cheque of $US 1.152m to the winner.
Watson has been drawn to play the opening two rounds in the company of Simpson and Steve Stricker.
And while Simpson will look to exact revenge on Watson, the new Masters champion felt he owed it to his fans in New Orleans to return to defend his title.
“I have not had enough time with my family, by myself or anything, but I felt obligated to my fans, to New Orleans, the city, that I should be here,” said Watson.
“I’ve lived three hours away, Pensacola, Florida, where I grew up. I felt like this would be a good opportunity for my friends and family from there to come over.
“I also felt like being defending champ, it was an obligation that I should be here. I think I should be honored that I won here before, and I should be here.
“But while I would love to be at home right now watching my little boy and spending time with my wife I’m here because I just felt like it was the right thing to do.”
Watson will face further opposition in the form of World No. 2 Luke Donald who can again unseat the absent World No. 1 Rory McIlroy with victory in New Orleans.
Also in the field is PGA champion, Keegan Bradley along with near Augusta winning hero Peter Hanson of Sweden along with Justin Rose and Ben Curtis who last week ended a six-year PGA Tour winless drought in capturing the Valero Texas Open.
