Defending Augusta National champion Bubba Watson is hoping his one-year old son, Caleb will be able to walk at least one hole with him during the Par 3 Contest held annually on the eve of the Masters.
Watson produced one of the lowest rounds on a windy final day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a five under par 67, for a four under par tally before a thunderstorm halted play and with defending champion Tiger Woods having moved to 12-under par after just two holes on the Bay Hill course in suburban Orlando.
The 37-year old Watson is due to compete on Monday and Tuesday in the ‘Made-for-TV’ Tavistock Cup at the nearby Isleworth Estate and in his final competitive appearance before the April 11th start to the Masters.
(See note since this story was posted on tornado halting play on the final day with a Monday resumption.)
Fans, including one holding a pink Ping driver, hoping to get Bubba Watson’s signature after his round of a 67 on the final day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Watson is then playing two practice rounds on Augusta National on Wednesday and Thursday in the company of his manager, Randall Wells ahead of his Augusta defence.
However when asked if he was excited in returning as Masters champion to Augusta, Watson responded: “Augusta is still two weeks away and I could get sick, I might get food poisoning so who knows what I might get.
“Something could also happen to my family and I might not even go to Augusta so the Masters is still so far away.
“But I am excited about going back to Augusta but then my excitement this year is about my family coming with me.
“My wife wasn’t there with me when I won and my son wasn’t there, and we’ve got two weeks to hopefully get Caleb to start walking so that he can walk one hole with me in the Par 3 Contest.
“So I’m looking forward to that and going back as a family as it’s a one in a lifetime achievement to win the Masters and I won it, so that’s what we’re looking at and all the positives of the moment.
“But I am also going there to try and win again so I will grind it out and try and win the golf tournament again.”
And Watson also spoke of his excitement in attending for a first time the Champions Dinner two days ahead of the Masters.
“The Champions Dinner is going to be great as everyone in the room will be wearing green jackets,” he smiled.
“It will be fabulous to see some of the old guys, some of the big name, so it will be nice to hang out and talk with them”.
Watson’s five under par 67 was the only sub-70 score early on the final day on a very windy Bay Hill course.
It left him in a share of 18th place as the leaders to the course.
“It was a great day and it’s funny how golf is as I was hitting the ball great all week, I was comfortable with everything and I just couldn’t make any putts,” he said.
“I had like, six three-putts the first three days so take away three shots and right there where I need to be.
“But putting is the name of the game and I managed to make some key putts today and hit some quality shots like I did the last couple of days.
“My goal is always a top-25 when I’m playing my best and it looks like I should hold onto that this week.
