Bubba Watson is the second-highest ranked player in the field for the Bob Hope Classic, which begins Wednesday in La Quinta.And there could be tears.
Watson, 32, tied for second at this tournament a year ago to kick off a season that was marked by professional accomplishments — winning his first PGA Tour event and playing for the U.S. in the Ryder Cup — and personal tragedy.
All season long, Watson communicated via Twitter the emotional struggles he was facing as his father, Gerry, battled lung cancer. Gerry passed away last fall but not before keeping track of Bubba during the Ryder Cup.
"He was in the hospital, he was getting fluids, so for me to be across [the ocean] talking to him at midnight every day was hard," Watson said Tuesday.
Watson's play during that international competition wasn't impeccable.
"He said I sucked," Watson said. "I didn't play very good … normal dad stuff.
"I didn't play as well as I wanted to over there, but my dad was proud of me."
Watson did play well the rest of the year. In June he won his first PGA Tour event at the Travelers Championship and in August almost won the PGA Championship, which would have been his first major title, losing to Germany's Martin Kaymer in a playoff.
It was in that loss at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin that Watson's personality was showcased.
His last hole of golf at that major might have been a bit of a disaster — he drove into the rough, then hit into water and finally hit the flagstick on a bogey try that would have extended the playoff — but his postgame emotions were weepy and joyful.
What Watson cared most about in the moment was whether he had qualified for the Ryder Cup.
He had.
"Hopefully you all don't think I'm a sissy," Watson said at the time. "You know, I do hit the ball a long way."
He wasn't exaggerating. In 2010, Watson ranked second on the Tour in driving distance, averaging 309.8 yards.
Through it all, Watson said knowing his father was fatally ill was no burden. It was strengthening.
"It helped me," Watson said, "because my dad wanted me to play golf. He was asking me to play golf."
Watson said that early last season he wasn't so public about his father's illness. That changed as the disease progressed. Watson decided that by letting his fans know about his father's cancer, his father might gain some extra prayers.
"It was just the way to get other people out there to pray for me and my family and help go through the process," Watson said.
