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SPRINGFIELD — Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson is more excited about the chance to be an Olympian than he is about the opportunity to win a gold medal at the Rio Olympics.
The 37-year-old American will be part of golf’s return to the Olympic line-up after a 112-year absence and he wants a chance to boost the sport’s global appeal.
"A gold medal is not really what I’m looking at, just being on the team and being part of this," Watson said. "The reason we brought golf to the Olympics was to try to get the world involved and grow the game. The gold medal, or any medal, is a bonus."
Watson, who captured green jackets in 2012 and 2014 at Augusta National, said he was going to a different Olympic sport every night as a spectator.
"I’m going to be a fan of the Olympics and I can’t wait. I’ve already bought my tickets from Monday to Saturday. I’m going to a different event every single night, and then golf gets in the way. Watching and meeting other athletes, that’s going to be the growing part for who I am as a person."
Watson will be needed to help restore some of the lustre lost from the men’s side when the world’s four top-ranked players withdrew. World No1 Jason Day of Australia, America’s second-ranked Dustin Johnson and No3 Jordan Spieth and four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy all cited the Zika virus.
Watson was the highest-ranked golfer when the 60-man Rio field was named, but Swede Henrik Stenson won the British Open to leap past him into fifth, Watson falling to sixth.
Watson, who had not dreamed of the Olympics until golf was in the line-up, had no Zika fears, having adopted children Dakota and Caleb because wife Angie is unable to have children. He said security in Rio was never a worry.
"We can’t have kids. So that aspect is completely wiped away. When it comes to security, I mean, I’ve seen the worst. I grew up in what some people wouldn’t say was a country club lifestyle, so I’m not worried about that.
"I don’t care if I finish dead last. At the end of my career I get to say I played in the Olympics."
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Bubba out to have a ball at the Olympics
SPRINGFIELD — Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson is more excited about the chance to be an Olympian than he is about the opportunity to win a gold medal at the Rio Olympics.
The 37-year-old American will be part of golf’s return to the Olympic line-up after a 112-year absence and he wants a chance to boost the sport’s global appeal.
"A gold medal is not really what I’m looking at, just being on the team and being part of this," Watson said. "The reason we brought golf to the Olympics was to try to get the world involved and grow the game. The gold medal, or any medal, is a bonus."
Watson, who captured green jackets in 2012 and 2014 at Augusta National, said he was going to a different Olympic sport every night as a spectator.
"I’m going to be a fan of the Olympics and I can’t wait. I’ve already bought my tickets from Monday to Saturday. I’m going to a different event every single night, and then golf gets in the way. Watching and meeting other athletes, that’s going to be the growing part for who I am as a person."
Watson will be needed to help restore some of the lustre lost from the men’s side when the world’s four top-ranked players withdrew. World No1 Jason Day of Australia, America’s second-ranked Dustin Johnson and No3 Jordan Spieth and four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy all cited the Zika virus.
READ THIS: Golfers using Zika as an excuse, says Redgrave
Watson was the highest-ranked golfer when the 60-man Rio field was named, but Swede Henrik Stenson won the British Open to leap past him into fifth, Watson falling to sixth.
Watson, who had not dreamed of the Olympics until golf was in the line-up, had no Zika fears, having adopted children Dakota and Caleb because wife Angie is unable to have children. He said security in Rio was never a worry.
"We can’t have kids. So that aspect is completely wiped away. When it comes to security, I mean, I’ve seen the worst. I grew up in what some people wouldn’t say was a country club lifestyle, so I’m not worried about that.
"I don’t care if I finish dead last. At the end of my career I get to say I played in the Olympics."
AFP
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