Watson: “I Have A Rival Ice Cream Shop Back Home But I Will Never Call Them Names”.

9 months ago by Comments Off on Watson: “I Have A Rival Ice Cream Shop Back Home But I Will Never Call Them Names”.

Bubba Watson laughed when he remarked he’d love to see an eventual Bubba’s Sweet Spot here in Riyadh.

Bubba’s Sweet Spot is located far away in the heart of Pensacola, Florida but it’s not the only sweets shop on South Palafox Street.

Of course, being a double Masters champion and the winner of 13 other tournaments in his now 22-year pro career has helped Bubba’s Sweet Shop to be No. 1 in a city boasting 10 sweets shops and just over half-a-million residents.

And in seeking the LIV Golf Range Goats captain’s thoughts on the current state of men’s golf the now 46-year-old likened talk of the still broken bridge scenario in men’s pro golf to his Pensacola sweets shop.

“There’s an ice cream shop back home where I also have an ice cream shop but I’m never going over there to call them names or anything”, said Watson.

“They’re my competition and you respect that in business while the business side of the game of golf is also competition so if there is someone bigger and better, and moving faster than you then should embrace them and learn from them in trying to improve your own product.

“The game of golf is in a good spot.  We’re growing but then attracting the best players in the world to play together is a different story and how do you get the best players in the world back get back together remains an unanswered question.

“Though the game of golf is growing through the roof”.

Watson is back in the Saudi Arabian capital for this week’s Asian Tour season-ending PIF Saudi International being played on Riyadh Golf Club course.

It is his second event of the Asian Tour year in two months having played in the Indonesia Masters and endearing himself to everyone in donating the house he won for an ace on the host Royale Jakarta course to a company accommodating the homeless in the country.

Watson joined LIV in late July, 2022 and some six weeks after the announcement of the initial signings but it was first as a non-playing captain as he was sidelined following knee surgery.  Around 10 days later he announced his resignation from the PGA Tour.

He competed in 14 LIV events this year with a best finish of a T15th in Las Vegas while his Range Goats team were third in Las Vegas and runner-up two months later in April at Miami.

“Probably an F”, he said with a serious face when asked how he assessed his 2024 season.

“It was season that was tough for me as it was more of a learning experience in learning about being a team captaincy and while captaincy really doesn’t mean much but being an owner when you’re trying to make moves and talk to sponsors and also play golf and practice as they are the things you have to learn to deal with.

“So, I’m still learning with having to deal with that.

“Some guys want to be hands on and I also want to be hands on. I want to be a part of everything going on as I want to help group the LIV Tour.

“Going forward I would back away as much as I could and leave this new role I have to my GM or someone”.

And in talking about business, Watson was asked his thoughts of Greg Norman and his role as CEO of LIV Golf, and this with Norman to soon step aside from his role.

“Greg brought LIV Golf to the world and forget what he did that first day because as soon as we studied it and learnt what it was all about, as that’s when the sports world fell in love with it”, said Watson.

“When I said the world, I meant the United States as the rest of the world had fallen in love with it from the outset.

“Greg Norman has accomplished above and beyond what anyone ever expected of it and without Greg Norman and his connections LIV Golf would not be in the strong position it is at present”.



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