Tour News

Have you seen this? Bubba Watson cranks drivers with shoppers at Golfsmith

Published

12 years ago

Jul 3, 2014

BUBBA & GOLFSMITH from Bubba Watson on Vimeo.

Fresh off a flight into Los Angeles a few weeks back, the No. 3-ranked golfer in the world, Bubba Watson, decided to stop by an area Golfsmith to drive and putt with shoppers.

And by all appearances, it wasn’t a clever prearranged marketing stunt orchestrated by Ping or Oakley intended to produce a viral video (although Watson does play the good company man with respect to Ping equipment).

Inside the store, the Masters champ begins by engaging an employee in a putting contest, rolling balls across the store floor and onto the small putting surface. With touch honed at Augusta National, Watson has no problem handling the carpet and comfortably lags to tap-in range.

“Anybody wanna try long drive…anybody?” Watson asks next.

The left-hander, who leads the PGA Tour with a 313-plus yard average off the tee, surprisingly isn’t vanquished by Joe Weekend Golfer when the pair take to the simulator to square off with the big stick. Credit to Watson though for slipping on a glove, as he really needed to maximize distance and control in order to edge out the his opponent, who likely plays from the white tees.

(Ping) driver in (and glove on) hand, Watson steps into the simulator and slightly bests his opponent’s 250-yard drive… by more than 75 yards.

Another putting contest ensues and Bubba continues being Bubba before buying a hybrid, a sleeve of balls and heading off for another adventure.

Whether Watson’s style is your cup of tea or not, it’s tough to imagine, say, the No. 5 golfer in the world (a certain Tiger Woods), stopping by Golfsmith to crank drivers, putt on the store floor and mingle with the commoners. Watson, with all his Twittering and Vimeoing, is good for the growth of the game.

And it looked like he paid retail for his club and sleeve of balls, so he’s supporting the golf industry that way too.

Check out the full video here.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

22 Comments

Brian

Jul 7, 2014 at 2:33 am

Two of the things that I liked which I want to mention:
1. For a man who makes as much as he does and has equipment custom fit for him, I think even he had sticker shock when he saw the price. “$200!”

2. He hit a “ladies flex” driver over 300 yards … unless they gave him a different one in between the cuts thus improving his drive 50 yards. Kind of removes some of my excuses when it comes to shafts.

Reply Report comment
- CP
  
  Jul 7, 2014 at 11:57 pm
  
  I think he was joking about it actually being ladies flex, but it was definitely softer than the X he’s used to.
  
  Reply Report comment
cocheese

Jul 5, 2014 at 2:25 pm

I love it!

Reply Report comment
- Matt C
  
  Jul 6, 2014 at 9:41 pm
  
  “…as he really needed to maximize distance and control in order to edge out the his opponent, who likely plays from the white tees.”
  
  Yes, Urkel, some of us are not real pros, like you.
  
  Reply Report comment
tank

Jul 5, 2014 at 7:10 am

bunch of bubba hating “tools” on here. get a life. same whiners who comment like their the real housewives of the pga.

Reply Report comment
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lisa

Jul 4, 2014 at 12:06 am

that place was EMPTY.

Reply Report comment
Donnie

Jul 3, 2014 at 10:02 pm

Total tool…

Reply Report comment
Martin

Jul 3, 2014 at 8:46 pm

I like Bubba.

Reply Report comment
nikkyd

Jul 3, 2014 at 5:13 pm

Id love to give him a BABA BOOEY! During his backswing

Reply Report comment
Alex

Jul 3, 2014 at 3:08 pm

A little late to the party on this one…

Reply Report comment
John Brotherton

Jul 3, 2014 at 12:38 pm

Yea, what a tool. Watson is emotional when he wins but a complete jerk to those in his group or anyone for that matter.

He is an amazing golfer but a lousy person, he has the right to do what he wants but I’d decline playing a round with him.

His tool status is right up there with Trevino. When the merry mex has a camera on him he is all smiles and fun, but when its off he is a complete jerkoff.

Reply Report comment
hebron1427

Jul 3, 2014 at 12:19 pm

amazing that a guy has that much fun doing his job. in his videos, he’s always playing putt putt or running into a random golf store. it’s all about golf. he does it 365 days a year and still does it when he’s not doing it. crazy cool.

Reply Report comment
- JW
  
  Jul 3, 2014 at 2:45 pm
  
  It isn’t like he has skills to do anything besides golf. He can’t even interview, he is limited to his golfing ability, alone.
  
  So, what is he going to do besides play golf?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - glitch
    
    Jul 3, 2014 at 4:52 pm
    
    I guess he could apply for your job and work his way up from there?
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Curt
      
      Jul 3, 2014 at 8:03 pm
      
      Hilarious!
      
      Reply Report comment
    - bradford
      
      Jul 10, 2014 at 7:55 am
      
      or perhaps talk about golf on the internet?
      
      Reply Report comment
  - DH14
    
    Jul 8, 2014 at 10:27 am
    
    Which I am assuming is why he plays golf FOR A LIVING?
    
    award for most pointless comment ^^^^^
    
    Reply Report comment
Keith Knox

Jul 3, 2014 at 11:56 am

It would be great if a long driver was in there and put it 30-40 by him!

Reply Report comment
Ant Lockyer

Jul 3, 2014 at 11:46 am

What a tool.

Reply Report comment
Lawrence Williams

Jul 3, 2014 at 11:45 am

Very cool…..

Reply Report comment
Mike

Jul 3, 2014 at 11:20 am

I want to casually bump in to Bubba somewhere. I don’t live far from his house in Orlando. Lol.

Reply Report comment

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