Jordan Spieth’s spectacular emergence has been the story of the golfing year. The American goes into the Open at St Andrews still with a chance of becoming the first player in the modern era to complete a clean sweep of majors in a calendar year following his triumphs at The Masters and the US Open.
Spieth’s incredible run has stunned many, but Bubba Watson knew it was coming. When the Texan upstart pushed him right to the last in the 2014 Masters, it became clear that a new force with the tools to upset the status quo had arrived. It was, Watson believes, only a matter of time.
Tiger Woods, Phil Mickleson and their peers have ruled the roost for the last decade. Now, though, a new world order spearheaded by no1 Rory McIlroy includes the likes of the precocious Spieth as well as Dustin Johnson, who will arrive in Scotland still mulling over his inability to land the US Open title when glory was within putting distance.
Caleb has to earn his toy money!! #GreenbrierLife pic.twitter.com/uJxuooya7Z
— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) July 7, 2015
His moment will surely come again. Yet, man of the moment Spieth arrives with the golfing world transfixed. Winning the Open to make it three out of three majors in 2015 would be quite remarkable. Watson, though, certainly isn’t putting anything past the 21-year-old.
“I have obviously seen first hand just how talented Jordan is so you know just how hard he will push you and what a talent he is, “ the two time Masters champion told Sport360.
“When Jordan started playing on the PGA Tour, they were giving him invites when he was 16 years old. Obviously, he is a very, very good player. I happened to beat him in ’14 at the Masters, but when you see him up close, you know that the talent is there.
“That’s not a guarantee of anything though. The next step and challenge is to make sure that it comes out. For him to prove it at this age and so quickly is quite something. It is pretty amazing.”
The poise Spieth showed last month at that treacherous Chambers Bay course said everything about an ability to stay ice cool while others were hurtling towards catastrophic meltdowns. Winning his first green jacket in Augusta in April clearly steeled him for the challenges ahead.
Watson’s inaugural Masters win in 2012 certainly wasn’t the instant spark which catapulted him towards further glories. Weeks of struggles followed – an inability to deal with the new found pressures of becoming a sporting icon were difficult to deal with for this engaging yet, at times, unpredictable man who entertains and angers players and fans alike.
Moaning about duties which should come naturally for someone of his standing – he has, for example, grumbled in the past about having to sign memorabilia – together with aloof behavior at some pro-ams haven’t gone down well. He isn’t the universally loved golfer his likeable, often goofy, persona would lead you to believe.
In April, Watson was voted the most unpopular man on the Tour. A hefty 22 per cent of players insisted they would refuse to help him out if he became embroiled in a fist fight.
When we meet in Manhattan’s swanky Soho district, a nice, happy Bubba is on show. The American is proudly pulling out all the stops in his role as ambassador for high-end mattress company Airweave. CEO Motokuni Takaoka enthuses over memories of their first meeting before Watson hilariously counters with his own version of events. He then takes the media present through a putting masterclass on a makeshift green.
Watson acts like the consummate professional. Yet the Georgia native openly admits grappling with stardom is an art within itself.
“It’s not easy at all,” he said when asked if he had advice for Spieth based on his own experience.
“There are so many new things to contend, more is happening behind the scenes, sponsors stuff, more fans, more TV time, more attention. The first time you ever win it, it’s tough to handle. You’re the defending champion and the media is all over you.
“It can be difficult. But hey, he’s so young he probably needs only two hours sleep!
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“It’s amazing for Jordan to jump forward so fast and reach a level again which saw him win a major. He is obviously a guy who rises when it comes to the big events.
“There is a clutch of young guys coming through now. You can say there’s been a changing of the guard. That’s great for the game.
“We are so wrapped up in the likes of Phil Mickleson, Tiger Woods and those guys who have dominated over the last 10 years or so. But they are getting older and the younger talent are really stepping up to the plate.
“Obviously, Rory is No1 right now and maybe soon enough, we may start thinking of him getting older and he is only 26. Jordan is coming through, Dustin’s time will certainly come again for sure. Our talent level across the board in golf is pretty remarkable.”
Watson himself crosses the pond on the back of his eighth PGA Tour triumph in the Travelers Championship recently. He’s currently world No3 and it’s worth remembering that since 2010, only McIlroy has won more PGA titles than the American.
The Open has never treated Watson particularly well – in six attempts he’s only got past the cut three times – though that will never stop him dreaming of adding to his major tally. A player who is so strong off the tee will always have a decent chance on the links of St Andrews, providing he’s patient.
Even though he missed the cut at the linkslike Chambers Bay during the US Open, the slates are clean and hopes are high.
“It was certainly a tough few days. They try and create an atmosphere which is very challenging,” he said.
“But who doesn’t want to play St Andrews? I spoke to Louis Oosthuizen. He won the Open at St Andrews five years ago so I was tapping him up for some info.
“But I am feeling good and confident of doing well there. I am looking forward to that style of golf. It hasn’t suited me so far – I play in the US most of the time so it’s more of an air game than a lower game so when I am there for a week, so I have to learn fast. I am going to give it a real go though.”
With golf to be included in Olympics for the first time next year in Rio, the 36-year-old predictably fancies mixing it at the greatest sporting event on the planet.
“I want to be involved in the Olympics 100 per cent,” enthused Watson. “I have always said that I would definitely skip any event for the chance to take part. I am excited about it.”
But does Bubba fancy pairing his green jacket with a shiny gold medal? “Yeah, that would be pretty cool,” he smiled.
