Bubba Watson is set to be unveiled during this week’s LIV Golf Series event as the Saudi rebel circuit’s latest big-name capture. The left-hander will play in the next £20 million tournament in Boston in the first week of September.
Watson and his two Green Jackets will add to LIV’s major power, although there will inevitably be ridicule at the signing of another golfer whose best days are in the rearview mirror. Watson, 43, is down in 86th in the world after a peak of 2nd seven years ago and did not play in the last two majors of this season – the US Open and Open – because of a torn meniscus. Indeed, he has not played competitively in more than two months.
Nevertheless, the 12-time Tour winner has a high profile and with his quirky, cavalier attitude fits in with many on the LIV roster who have “Marmite” personalities, joining the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia. Watson is a maverick performer and entertaining showman, who retains the ability to shoot low numbers, as he proved with a 63 at the US PGA in may, despite appearing at Southern Hills with an injured knee.
Watson is believed to be receiving a fee in excess of $50million (£41 million) and should be installed as a captain of one of the 12 four-man teams in the 48-man field. He has been linked with the breakaway circuit since the bid to revolutionise the elite end of the male game gained traction early last year. Watson was actually on the early LIV promos – before being quickly removed – and there will be little surprise at his defection. An indefinite PGA Tour ban will almost certainly follow.
Watson’s only top-five finish in the last two campaigns came at the Saudi International in February, when he finished second behind Harold Varner III, who memorably denied his compatriot by a shot when holing a 92-footer for an eagle on the 18th. In true Bubba fashion he enthusiastically celebrated with Varner and seemed to be more emotional than if he had won himself.
But for any last-minute hiccups with the deal, Watson will be announced and interviewed here during the live broadcast of the 54 holer that runs from Friday to Sunday and will feature the winner receiving in excess of £3million, with the player in last prize collecting almost £100,000.
Meanwhile, it was confirmed that the LIV Golf League will launch next year with 12 established team franchises competing in a 14-tournament schedule. The full schedule of events will be announced at a later date and is expected to expand LIV Golf’s global footprint across North and Latin Americas, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and Europe. There will be a combined prize pot of $405million (£332million).