Throwback Thursday – Bubba Watson Tees Off In Sanford Stadium and on PGA Tour

Connor Smolensky | July 5, 2012 at 2:39 pm | 2 Comments

[ezjw url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJShtDsEb48"]

With Isaiah Crowell taking over the media surrounding Georgia football, I figured we should take a break from the gridiron this week.

Yet, one man at Sanford Stadium has done something that no other athlete has yet to do or even attempt.

Hit a golf ball out of the stadium.

Former Georgia golfer, Gerry Lester “Bubba” Watson, drove a ball from one end and out the other with his iconic pink driver.

Before attending Georgia, Watson played golf for Faulkner State Community College for two years where he was a junior college All-American.

He then transferred to Georgia, the defending NCAA champions, and played as a Bulldog for the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

While at Georgia, Watson helped the Bulldogs to a 2000 Southeastern Conference Title, and in 2001 was left home as Georgia traveled to the NCAA championships.

Watson was the 6th man behind five other golfers—all of whom were All-Americans.

Although he did not travel to the biggest tournament in 2001, he is the biggest name to ever come out of the prestigious Georgia golf program.

Bubba turned pro in 2003 where he played on the Nationwide Tour until 2005.

The Georgia alum finished 21st on the Tour’s money list—making him the last player to qualify for the following year’s PGA Tour.

As a rookie on the PGA Tour in 2006 Watson racked in $1,019,264, finishing in 90th place, and led the PGA Tour with a driving distance of 319.6 yards.

Watson’s longest-ever-drive on the PGA Tour was 416 yards at the 2010 Sony Open.

Bubba had always been known for his long drive, but all facets of his game came together in 2010 as he collected his first career PGA Tour win in June.

Watson defeated Corey Pavin and Scott Verplank in the second hole of a sudden death playoff in Cromwell, Connecticut at the Travelers Championship.

On January 30, 2011 Watson won his second PGA Tour event, the Farmers Insurance Open, finishing one stroke ahead of Phil Mickelson. Watson picked up his second win of the 2011 season and third career PGA Tour title on May 1 when he defeated Webb Simpson at the second playoff hole at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

But his biggest win of his PGA Career came in 2012 where he earned his first green jacket.

Watson defeated Louis Oosthuizen in a sudden death playoff after driving the ball into the right rough on the 10th hole.

His next shot was one for the ages.

As nobody thought it was possible to put it on the green, Watson hooked his shot about 70 yards and placed it within 20 feet of the green.

After a missed putt by Oosthuizen, Watson two-putted to become the first former Georgia golfer to ever win the Masters.

That win has lifted Watson into 4th place in the FedEx Cup Rank with a scoring average of 69.5.

Watson is currently the 6th ranked player in the world, and one of the biggest names to ever come out of Georgia.

Throwback Thursday Archive