Bubba Watson entered the 2017 Genesis Open as the defending champion, and ranked No. 13 in the world. Just 12 months later, however, the two-time Masters champion has fallen off the map and will tee it up at Riviera this week as the 117th ranked golfer in the world.
Players with higher rankings than Bubba right now include iconic names such as Jorge Campillo (114), Andrew Landry (110), Jamie Lovemark (108), Sungjae Im (101), Shugo Imahira (94), and Sunghoon Kang (91) – all of whom have one thing in common: They’ve never won on the PGA Tour.
Unlike other top-ranked players who have collapsed in recent years, Bubba’s world-ranking plummet can’t be pointed to any specific injury or issue, but more seemingly a collective combination of out-of-order priorities.
Translation: He cares more about being “Bubba” the virtue-signaling celebrity than being “Bubba” the top-ranked golfer.
For example, in his five starts this season, Watson has posted the following: T51, 67, MC, T40, T35.
Yet, as he prepares to tee it up this week at Riviera, having not smelled a top 25 finish this season, here’s what Bubba is focused on:
1. Bubba Reviews His Golf Swing The Ellen Show
It was awesome seeing one of the most talented people I know today! @TheEllenShow #ILoveEllen pic.twitter.com/3pr5Yl9JCV
— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) February 14, 2018
2. Bubba Talks Golf Cars with Coach Jay Leno
Hanging with @jayleno today @LenosGarage ? …which one should I ask to drive?? pic.twitter.com/ekPcmiv4KG
— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) February 12, 2018
3. Bubba Tapes Promotion With Dustin Johnson Twitter Video With Celebrity Long Driver
Paired with Adam Scott and @DJohnsonPGA this week @genesisopen… Practicing with @Troyger #urwelcome pic.twitter.com/XdtigBZO4h
— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) February 13, 2018
4. Bubba Takes Us Behind the Scenes Virtue Signals With His Pink Driver
Custom to the core. Step inside the PING Tour Truck as we build @bubbawatson’s pink #G400 LST driver. pic.twitter.com/1Et8lJ2H8H
— PING GOLF (@PingTour) February 12, 2018
5. Bubba Says He’ll Pull Out of NBA Celebrity Game If It Interferes With Golf (Check That. The Other Way Around.)
Bubba Watson says he'll pull out of the Genesis Open if it interferes with playing in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game: https://t.co/GgRNRrJ7Ke pic.twitter.com/MgiJC2EiPI
— The Loop (@GoToTheLoop) February 14, 2018
Credits: Bubba Watson Twitter, PING Golf, The Loop
