Bubba Watson has gone from the ‘accidental tourist’ to the informed visitor for this week’s Emirates Australian Open in Sydney.

Watson, who turned 33 last week, is competing in Australia for a first time since losing a play-off to Robert Allenby in 2005 Australian Masters in Melbourne.

Bubba Watson competing in this years French Open. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

However the golfer from Bagdad, Florida was in the newspapers for all the wrong reasons earlier this year when competing in the French Open at Vesailles.

Watson got off on the wrong foot right from the outset of the prestigious event falling out with media with requests for pre-arranged interviews and then showing his ‘Ugly American’ side when asked if he had visited any of the famed Paris landmarks.

He called the Arc de Triomphe “the arch I drove around in a circle”, the Palace of Versailles was described as “the castle that we’re staying next to” and the Louvre was dismissed as “a building beginning with L”.

However while apologising for his lack of knowledge Watson arrived back to Australia having done his ‘homework’ and ready for any further questions.

“I landed here in Sydney on Monday early in the morning and we took a water taxi and went around Sydney Harbour and wherever water taxis go,” he said.

“It was about an hour and a half riding around in a boat. We took some pictures.

“On Tuesday I played golf early in the morning then we went and visited the Sydney Aquarium and a little shopping centre down on the Harbour.

“We are trying to get up to the zoo. As soon as I get done with you guys we will go and do some sightseeing.

“But I’ve now got to be more appreciative of where I’m at,” he said.

“I’ve got to be more respectful of where I’m at. Choose my words carefully, knowing it can be hurtful to some people. And then I’ve got to remember that it’s just golf.

“No matter how bad I play, or how good I play, it’s just golf. I’ve got to be more mindful and respectful to others around me.”

But while Watson says he’s now more mindful and respectful he says he’s not yet comfortable playing around the globe.

“It is different as you are learning a new golf course,” he said.

“You are learning different grasses, different winds, you learn that the air is a little bit thicker in the wind here.

“When the ball is into the wind it goes a lot shorter. It is totally different to what we are used to.

“So it’s a learning experience.  We want to learn. We want to go to different places and learn golf courses and see how our game travels.

“It is fun unless you play really bad.”