Bubba: The pressure’s on Rory

Bubba Watson may be in sight of an incredible third Masters crown, but he reckons all the pressure at Augusta will be on Rory McIlroy.
Watson will be aiming to join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only players to win consecutive green jackets, and could join the likes of Sam Snead and Gary Player by becoming only the sixth three-time winner.
But with World No 1 looking to complete the career Grand Slam at age 25, having already triumphed at the US Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship, Watson reckons the eyes of the golfing world will instead be upon him.
“I don’t have any pressure,” said Watson. “I’ve already got two jackets.
“Obviously, I think he (McIlroy) would have more pressure than me, because look at the talent he has and the records he could beat when he gets older.”
Watson does think the pressure on McIlroy will largely be self-inflicted, as the Northern Irishman still has many years ahead of him in order to complete the Grand Slam.
“I don’t call it pressure at all from McIlroy. I call it an accomplishment he’s trying to do,” he explained.
“He’s got years, he’s got his whole life to try to win the Masters, but obviously … he’s going to put pressure on himself.”
For Watson, the mere fact that he is a two-time Masters champion is already an incredible achievement, a point that’s pretty hard to argue.
“Who cares about three times, let’s just talk about twice,” he said.
“I’m from a small town, a guy named Bubba, never had a lesson.
“I just see it as what a dream it is to play on the PGA Tour, somehow now got two Masters jackets. Pretty wild and pretty crazy stuff.”
Crazy stuff, indeed.
Latest
-
News
Sponsor Ralph Lauren drops Justin Thomas following homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three uttered the derogatory word towards himself after missing a putt at Kapalua last weekend.
-
News
Bryson DeChambeau keeping brain relaxed to avoid repeat of Masters misery
DeChambeau said his brain went into overdrive at Augusta National.
-
News
European Tour preparing for business as planned in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is due to start next week.
-
News
Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera arrested in Brazil
The former US Open and Masters winner was on the run from the law.
-
News
On this Day in 2013: Paul McGinley given Ryder Cup captaincy
McGinley would go on to be involved in a sixth Ryder Cup victory.
-
News
Collin Morikawa keen to draw inspiration from family ties to Hawaii at Sony Open
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
-
News
R&A: ‘No plans’ for Open to head to Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in near future
Trump National in Bedminster was on Sunday stripped of next year’s US PGA Championship.
-
News
US PGA Championship moved from Donald Trump-owned course in New Jersey
Trump National in Bedminster had been set to host the event.
-
News
Justin Thomas : ‘I made a terrible, terrible judgement call’
Thomas admitted he was distracted by what happened on Saturday during his final round.
-
News
PGA Championship to be moved away from Donald Trump-owned course
It is the second time in six years the PGA has moved an event away from a course owned by Donald Trump.