The PGA Tour’s Rainman is back.
Of course there was weeping on the 18th green as Bubba Watson ended a two year winless streak Sunday afternoon at the L.A. Open.
The PGA Tour’s golf savant finished off the rest of the challengers Sunday at Riviera, a place where he has now won three times. Watson won in 2014 and again two years ago.
This time around, he jumped into the 54-hole lead after a 65 on Saturday then broke things open on the back nine of the final 18 when he holed a greenside bunker shot for birdie at the par three 14th. That got him to 11-under par then he’d seal it with an easy birdie at the par five 17th where he blasted a 349-yard drive then hit a driving-range six-iron into the middle of the green. Two putts later and he had a stress-free walk up the 18th.
He fought off challengers Kevin Na, Tony Finau, Scott Stallings and Patrick Cantlay. None had the experience to make a serious run at the two-time Masters champ. Na and Finau tied for second at 10-under.
For Watson, it was his 10th career victory and his third in L.A. put him in the company of Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer.
Watson hugged his caddy moments after sinking the final putt for a 69 and 12-under total. He wept.
“Means a lot. My goal all along has been to get 10 wins. ”
The past two seasons, especially 2017, brought all kinds of doubt into Watson’s mind. He admitted after last season that he had lost his confidence.
But he changed golf balls, going back to the ball that he won all his tournaments with and he overcame a mystery illness that brought on significant weight loss.
“Don’t know if you’re gonna win again. Don’t know if I’d ever lift a trophy again,” Watson said in a moment of reflection.
He said he even considered retirement from the game. “I mentioned it 10 or 12 times to my wife. God’s given me a gift to play golf. I’m not good at anything else.”
