Skip to main content

New dad Bubba gets back to business

By Sheena McKenzie, for CNN
updated 7:56 AM EDT, Thu April 26, 2012
Bubba Watson says he has spent most of his time with his family since winning his first major at Augusta.
Bubba Watson says he has spent most of his time with his family since winning his first major at Augusta.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Zurich Classic champion Bubba Watson taking a break from his duties as a father
  • Masters winner says he hasn't even touched green jacket after Augusta victory
  • Returning to New Orleans out of obligation to fans and charity
  • The 33-year-old Christian insists he's just an "average joe"

(CNN) -- If it was left up to Bubba Watson, he'd be at home changing diapers instead of defending his New Orleans title this week.

Ahead of Thursday's opening round at the Zurich Classic, reigning champ Bubba admitted he'd rather be caring for his adopted baby boy Caleb than on the green at TPC Louisiana.

In fact, the 33-year-old Masters champion is so unconcerned with his golfing triumphs, he hasn't even touched the coveted green jacket won in Augusta earlier this month. Well, only to post a picture of it on Twitter hanging next to Caleb's identical tiny outfit.

"Truthfully, I haven't thought about being a major champ," he told reporters.

Just over a month after adopting Caleb with wife Angie, the devout Christian insisted: "It's all about my son and being a better husband.

Wacky world of Bubba Watson
Masters champ. Bubba Watson talks family
Bubba Watson receives the green jacket from 2011 winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa. Bubba Watson receives the green jacket from 2011 winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.
Bubba dons the green jacket
HIDE CAPTION
<<
<
1
2
3
4
5
>
>>
Bubba Watson wins Masters after playoff at Augusa Bubba Watson wins Masters after playoff at Augusa
Ernie Els is most famous for his golfing exploits, but as his career reaches its twilight years he is focusing on a cause dear to his heart. Ernie Els is most famous for his golfing exploits, but as his career reaches its twilight years he is focusing on a cause dear to his heart.
Close to home
HIDE CAPTION
<<
<
1
2
3
4
5
6
>
>>
Ernie Els: A father\'s love Ernie Els: A father's love

"I haven't seen the green jacket, the green jacket's been hanging in the closet since the Wednesday of all the media stuff so I haven't touched it since then. I held the baby jacket right up next to it for the Twitter photo but I haven't touched it, I haven't thought about winning."

But with money raised from the Fore!Kids Foundation throughout the tournament going towards helping rebuild a city still struggling in the aftermath of 2005's Hurricane Katrina, big-hearted Bubba admitted the Zurich Classic was simply too important an event to miss.

Plus there's the fans who will be hoping to catch a glimpse of the reigning champ hitting the type of miraculous shot that won him the trophy in Augusta.

Bubba burst into tears after escaping out of woods on the 10th fairway in a playoff against South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen.

But despite bawling on his mother's shoulder in front of the media scrum, Watson insists he is unfazed by his wins. At New Orleans, there are more important things at stake.

"I thought about coming here because I owed it to the fans being the defending champion," he said.

"Winning a tournament, no matter if it's a major or not, it's a big deal, it's a major event for that city as it is about raising charity dollars -- especially round this place. They would love some charity dollars to build the city back up to where it used to be."

Fresh from the media whirlwind that has surrounded him since taking the Masters, Bubba played up to his "average Joe" appeal.

"I'm just Bubba from Bagdad, Florida," he said.

"Small town. Play golf because it's fun. Every day is different. Some days it's windy, some days it's not, some days the ground is firm, some days it's wet. You wake up, it's always a challenge. So you always challenge yourself, you always set goals for yourself," he said.

"I think that resonates -- that's a big word, there -- with everybody. It resonates with everybody because I'm from a small town, I played public golf courses growing up, and I think that everybody can see that.

"Everybody can see that my swing is homegrown. That means everybody has a chance to do it. Hard work, dedication, practice and the drive to do it and not worry about what other people say."

ADVERTISEMENT
Part of complete coverage on
updated 12:15 PM EDT, Tue April 16, 2013
Masters champion Adam Scott not only has to contend with national hero status at home but also the role of golf's latest sex symbol.
updated 7:18 AM EDT, Fri April 12, 2013
Discover why golf's old school establishment fears a new breed of players creating new popularity with their online antics.
updated 2:54 PM EDT, Thu April 11, 2013
Following the web's reaction to Adam Scott's dramtic triumph at the 2013 Masters.
updated 10:08 AM EDT, Fri April 12, 2013
It's not just golf that makes Augusta so special -- there's also James Brown, cheese pimiento sandwiches, turkeys and ghosts.
updated 9:00 AM EDT, Tue March 26, 2013
As a swimmer, his countless hours of training paid off handsomely. As a golfer, Michael Phelps is wondering what he got himself into.
updated 9:06 AM EDT, Mon April 1, 2013
D.A. Points strikes a 'Dufnering' pose with the trophy on the 18th green after winning the Shell Houston Open at the Redstone Golf Club on March 31, 2013 in Humble, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
American D.A. Points celebrates his win at the Houston Open by joining in the "Dufnering" craze that has gripped golf recently.
updated 8:40 AM EST, Thu March 7, 2013
Ernie Els' coach Claude Harmon and former world No.1 Martin Kaymer tell Living Golf that anchored putting is dividing the sport.
updated 8:49 AM EST, Thu March 7, 2013
Matteo Manassero, the youngest player to qualify for the Masters, reflects on his career and the boy who will break one of his records.
updated 8:34 AM EST, Thu March 7, 2013
Living Golf meets Thorbjorn Olesen as the rising star of European golf prepares for the most important tournaments of his career.
updated 3:25 PM EDT, Wed March 13, 2013
Martin Kaymer reflects on his performance at the 39th Ryder Cup, when he sunk the winning putt against the United States.
updated 10:01 AM EST, Thu February 7, 2013
CNN's Shane O'Donoghue asks how much Rory McIlroy's new multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal is really worth.
updated 12:48 PM EST, Thu February 7, 2013
Living Golf meets Paul McGinley, who talks about becoming Europe's new Ryder Cup captain.
updated 6:49 AM EST, Mon February 18, 2013
Paul McGinley's former captain, Sam Torrance, shares some advice for the pro golfer turned new Ryder Cup captain.
updated 10:16 AM EST, Thu February 7, 2013
Don Riddell explores whether Tuscany can follow up on Italy's successes on the European Tour and develop golf tourism.
updated 10:12 AM EST, Thu February 7, 2013
2010 PGA Champion Martin Kaymer shares his favorite shots with CNN's Shane O'Donoghue.
updated 1:40 PM EST, Tue February 5, 2013
Two men with lofty ambitions in a midwestern town of the United States have finally realized their dream after months of endeavor.
updated 7:13 AM EST, Thu January 3, 2013
Living Golf's Shane O'Donoghue explores the changing role of black players in South African golf.
updated 8:07 AM EST, Thu January 3, 2013
Shane O'Donoghue meets South Africa's Branden Grace, the outstanding breakout player from the 2012 European season.
updated 7:14 AM EST, Thu January 3, 2013
Shane O'Donoghue meets Dr. Sherylle Calder, the woman who taught reigning British Open champion Ernie Els how to putt again.
updated 9:39 AM EST, Sat December 22, 2012
It's crazy golf on an insane scale -- a putting green swimming in a giant bowl of noodles and the Great Wall of China for a hazard.
ADVERTISEMENT