Whenever Bubba Watson hits the driving range, it’s like he’s in his own world where physics is just a suggestion. Take January, for instance. We were set up at Dutchman’s Pipe in sunny South Florida, Trackman at the ready, and there was Bubba, casually instructing me on the finer points of shaping shots both left and right. But not just tweaking the ball’s path—no, he was all about sending it soaring and curving with as much flair as possible. It’s a dazzling skill, and Bubba, with his characteristic lack of modesty, is more than happy to showcase it.
Soon enough, just watching me take swings begins to gnaw at him, and it’s not long before he snatches a club and dives in. His first swing? A biting hook, much reminiscent of that legendary shot from the pine straw at Augusta National. That 2012 playoff shot against Louis Oosthuizen wasn’t just a win; it was the birth of “Bubba Golf” as a phenomenon. There on the range, he laughs as his shot curls an unbelievable 129 feet from left to right, nudged along by a stiff breeze. It’s the perfect prompt for me to finally prod him about that infamous shot at Augusta, leading us into stories about the myriad of unforgettable strikes he’s made at the Masters over the years.
And so, for the next ten delightful minutes, Bubba fills me in on what he dubs his “Mount Rushmore” of magical Masters moments. We captured these musings in an exclusive video for InsideGolf members, which you can find below.
First on his list was that iconic hook from 2012 on the 10th hole during the playoff. Yet next came a gem from 2022—an under-the-radar approach on the 18th that few recall. Bubba rocketed a shot from the trees separating 18 and 10, sending it skyward only to lose sight of its landing due to the dense woodland. Still, he recounts it as one of the finest shots he’s ever executed.
Then there’s a moment dear to his former caddie, Ted Scott. It involved another bending hook from the pine straw, this time from the right of the 11th. The challenge? Clearing a pond and pulling it back onto the green. Scott advised against it, but with Bubba, you discard caution. Naturally, he completed it effortlessly, prompting me to question, “Are these 1-in-100 or 1-in-1,000 shots?”
With a cheeky grin, Bubba quips, “Nah, they’re like 1-in-10, maybe? I practice these at home all the time. But doing them at the Masters? Well, that’s different.”
Absolutely!
Make sure to watch the video below—exclusive to InsideGolf members—where Watson elaborates on these shots and also reveals a wild, muddy wedge play during his triumphant 2012 run.
