Is Bubba A Horse For No Particular Course?

Rex Hoggard takes in Bubba Watson's Hero World Challenge on a course that Jordan Spieth said was made for the two-time Masters winner, yet which wasn't exactly to Bubba's liking.

Which begs the maddening question, what does Bubba Golf really like? For bettors, fantasy players and fans of his playing style, he remains so hard to read.

Hoggard writes:

He’s won the Travelers Championship twice – which is played at TPC River Highlands, one of the circuit’s shortest layouts (6,841 yards) – and the Northern Trust Open at Riviera, widely considered a ball-striker’s paradise.

“I get nervous just like anybody else, and I just try to find a way to get the ball in play,” said Watson, who set the stage for his Sunday romp with a then-course record 63 on Saturday. “I hit some big slices today, hit some big hooks today, just [trying] to get the ball in play. I’m just trying to look for a score. I’m not looking for perfection.”

Although generally speaking, Watson certainly favors open fairways with straightforward visuals - or, put another way, a layout that offers a right-brainer like Bubba immediate and unimpeded feedback - but there is more to his magic than that.

Courses like Plainfield (N.J.) Country Club, host of this year’s Barclays, have far too much subterfuge and, ultimately, doubt for a player like Watson.

The highlights from PGA Tour Entertainment: