Bubba Watson apologizes for Phoenix Open comments
Two days after saying he didn’t like changes to Waste Management Phoenix Open host TPC Scottsdale and that he only was playing in the event because three of his sponsors were nearby, Bubba Watson said he was sorry.
“I used the wrong words,” Watson said after a second consecutive 2-under 69 has him on the fringes of contention heading into the weekend.
“I have nothing against the fans and the tournament. The fans have been great. I love coming here. I’ve lived here every winter for eight years. This is a beautiful place. And the reason why I’m here is because of the excitement around this golf tournament. The fans have been great.”
Watson heard it from the throng of fans at the tournament on Thursday and again on Friday. He was booed mercilessly ahead of his tee shot at the par-3 16th during both rounds.
The two-time Masters winner created this problem for himself when he was asked Wednesday what he liked about the Tom Weiskopf design, given Watson had been a runner-up each of the prior two years.
“I don’t like it,” Watson said. “I’m not going to PC it. I don’t like it at all. I just mentioned why I’m here. I’ve got three beautiful sponsors that love it here.”
Watson bemoaned Weiskopf’s 2014 changes to the course which debuted at last year’s tournament. However, the words he’d already said did the damage. He tried to appease angry fans with a pre-round tweet praising the event on Thursday, but it clearly didn’t work.
“I used words that I shouldn’t have used,” he said. “I didn’t explain myself well. My wife says that, too, when I go home. I don’t communicate very well.”
Now Watson has to hope his mea culpa reaches the fans ahead of the third round. Saturday is typically the most outrageous day of the tournament, particularly with the Super Bowl on Sunday tending to lead to a slightly subdued crowd. After his round, Watson tried his best to downplay their reaction the last two days and revealed how he hopes to win them back.
“When you hit a bad shot, they are rough with everybody,” he said. “I three-putted. They were rough then, too. But I gave out free socks, so they love me again. That’s why I bring the stuff, so they all love me no matter how I hit it.”
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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