Bubba Watson’s childish ranting about the PGA Championship’s revived long-drive contest did not fall on deaf ears, as PGA president Ted Bishop on Wednesday took the whiny Masters champion to task for opting out of an event that was fun for everyone but baby Bubba.
Bubba Watson can start whining now about next year’s PGA long-drive competition
Bubba Watson may not like to hear it, but PGA of America president Ted Bishop pledges to keep the long-drive competition in the PGA Championship rotation.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Watson, during his Tuesday press conference, went off on one of his Bubba toots about why he -- the longest driver on the PGA Tour and, for some unfathomable reason, still a fan favorite -- vehemently opposed participating in an exhibition at which he would likely have excelled.
There’s no percentage in trying to psychoanalyze the big-hitting buffoon from Bagdad; instead we’ll let Bishop, ever so gently, slap Watson on the wrist for his juvenile, less than charitable behavior.
“We spent a lot of time [making] sure we conducted the competition in the right spirit,” Bishop told reporters ahead of Thursday’s kickoff to the real game. “We tried to make it player-sensitive, we certainly made it an optional competition. We put in a nice charity component.”
Bishop noted that the winning, 340-yard drive of Louis Oosthuizen -- no doubt aided by the latest and greatest golf gear the industry has to offer -- still fell one yard shy of Jack Nicklaus’ all-time leading persimmon driver-powered shot of 341 yards. Kinda makes you wonder about all the hullabaloo the last few years over technology and equipment, Bishop observed.
But back to Bubba, who will have the option again next year of choosing to act like a brat instead of joining in on the festivities.
“That was fun and it’s something that, based on the success of the competition, we’ll definitely be doing again next year,” said Bishop.
Ball’s in your court, Bubba.
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