KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Bubba Watson has been texting Olympic champ Michael Phelps and joking with Mets ace Johan Santana. Now, the Masters champion says it's time for more winning golf at the PGA Championship.
Watson believes the glow from his win at Augusta National in April is starting to fade as he enters the season's final major at the PGA Championship. He's focused on breaking through again this week at the Ocean Course.
Watson has played just 20 competitive rounds since winning the green jacket in a playoff. He missed the cut at the U.S. Open and his best finish the past four months was second at The Travelers in June.
Watson, 33, has a good excuse, though, as he and wife Angie finished the adoption process for son Caleb on Monday.
"Somehow it all worked out and now we're parents," he said Tuesday.
It has been a landmark year for the big-hitting Watson, who says his first major title ranks way down the list of what has driven him this season. Nothing tops the joy of seeing his 5-month-old son after a round, no matter how Watson finishes in a tournament.
"You know, if I never play golf again, I can still be a great dad," he said. "So that's the key and that's where my life stands. Golf is there, but I'm not going to pout when I go home."
Watson is ready to get serious about winning golf. He expects to have a shot at the Ocean Course, set to be the longest layout in major championship history at 7,676 yards. He excelled at PGA Championships over Pete Dye courses before, making the playoff in 2010 at Whistling Straits before losing to Martin Kaymer.
"Yes, everything about it, it feels like that," Watson said. "But I think here, it seems like the rough is not as demanding here as it was at Whistling Straits. Now that I've said that, I'll probably miss every fairway."
Watson played just once in July, finishing 23rd at the British Open. Last week he opened with 66 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational before fading to 19th.
Watson believes the pressure is off, particularly after completing the legal hurdles and paperwork to make Caleb's adoption complete.
"We got that done," Watson said. "And now we're on to trying to win this tournament, trying to play good golf, trying to get better in the game."
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