Nina Caldwell
Bubba Watson is a professional golfer from Bagdad, Florida, who turned pro in 2002. He has won 12 PGA Tour titles, including the 2012 and 2014 Masters, and represented the United States at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. In 2022, Watson joined LIV Golf but did not play until 2023 due to a knee injury. Despite a disappointing 2024 season, where he was relegated out of LIV Golf, he is expected to return to playing in 2025. While Watson has considered retirement in the past, there is no indication that he has retired from golf as of 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Retirement status | Bubba Watson has not retired from golf |
| Recent career status | Relegated out of LIV Golf but will likely keep playing |
| Reason for relegation | Failed to finish in the top 48 of the season standings |
| Reason for poor performance | Recovering from a torn meniscus |
| Future plans | Returning to play in 2025 |
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What You'll Learn
Bubba Watson has not retired from golf
Watson, a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, including Masters victories in 2012 and 2014, has been open about his mental health struggles and the pressure he feels to perform well. He has stated that he once considered retiring, tying his self-worth to his golf performance. However, with the support of his wife and team, he has persevered through these struggles.
In 2022, Watson joined LIV Golf as a non-playing team captain while recovering from a torn meniscus, intending to return to playing in 2023. However, he missed a large part of the 2022 season due to injury and has faced relegation in 2024 due to poor performance. Despite this, Watson remains committed to improving his game and returning to form. He is expected to be back playing for LIV Golf in 2025, and his team has expressed confidence in his ability to bounce back.
Watson's golfing career began at a young age when his father, a New York Yankees fan, noticed his son's athletic talent. Choosing golf over baseball, Watson played for Faulkner State Community College and the University of Georgia, turning professional in 2002. He has represented his nation at the Olympics and participated in several Ryder Cups, showcasing his dedication to the sport.
While Watson has considered retirement and faced recent challenges, he remains an active and influential figure in golf, with a strong determination to continue playing and improving.
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He joined LIV Golf in 2022
Bubba Watson has not retired from golf. In fact, on July 29, 2022, Watson announced that he had joined LIV Golf as a non-playing team captain for the rest of the 2022 season while he recovered from a torn meniscus. He intended to return to playing golf in 2023.
Watson's move to LIV Golf was motivated by his desire to help people and make a positive impact. In an interview, he shared: "The main reason I came to LIV is that I want to help people. I love helping people. I’ve done stuff around the world, I’ve tried to give back as much as I can. I’ve built hospitals, water wells, done a lot of stuff."
Watson also seems to enjoy the commercial side of his role, focusing on growing the RangeGoats GC brand and the game of golf in general. He even came up with the name "RangeGoats GC" for his LIV Golf team.
In addition to his business acumen, Watson has been open about his mental health struggles and his emotional journey of adopting his children. He has a strong devotion to his family and finds great joy in helping others.
As of June 2025, Watson was still associated with LIV Golf. He was one of seven players from LIV Golf who withdrew from a U.S. Open final qualifying site in Rockville, Maryland.
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He has 12 PGA Tour titles
Bubba Watson is an American professional golfer with 12 PGA Tour wins and two major championship titles. He turned professional in 2002 and joined the PGA Tour in 2006, quickly making a name for himself as one of the longest drivers on the tour. In 2007, he had an average drive of 315.2 yards (288.2 m), with his longest drive in professional competition being 424 yards (388 m) at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Watson's first PGA Tour win came on January 30, 2011, at the Farmers Insurance Open, where he finished one stroke ahead of runner-up Phil Mickelson. He picked up his second win of the 2011 season and third career PGA Tour title on May 1, defeating Webb Simpson at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Watson's unique style of play and powerful drives continued to propel him to success on the PGA Tour.
In 2012, Watson won his first major championship at the Masters Tournament, claiming the coveted Green Jacket. He returned to Augusta National in 2014 and won his second Masters title, this time by three shots with a score of 280 (−8). These major victories, along with his consistent performances on the PGA Tour, established Watson as one of the top golfers in the world.
Watson's other notable PGA Tour victories include the 2014 Northern Trust Open, where he defeated Dustin Johnson by two strokes, and the Travelers Championship, which helped him climb to third in the Official World Golf Ranking. He also won the unofficial Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in 2015, showcasing his consistent excellence in golf tournaments.
While Bubba Watson has faced setbacks and controversies throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated his skill and determination on the golf course. With 12 PGA Tour titles and a reputation as one of the longest drivers in golf, Watson has solidified his place as one of the sport's most accomplished and recognisable figures.
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He's a two-time Masters champion
Bubba Watson is a professional golfer from Bagdad, Florida. He is known for his two Major championship wins and powerful drives.
Watson's first full year on the PGA Tour was in 2006, and he won his first Green Jacket in 2012. He won the Masters Tournament again in 2014, becoming the 17th player to win the Masters two or more times. He earned a second "Green Jacket" by winning the Masters in 2014, beating Jordan Spieth and Jonas Blixt.
Watson is one of the few left-handed golfers on the PGA Tour. He is also one of the relatively few players who have won the Masters more than once. He is a big, friendly, and carefree presence on the golf course, known for his ready smile, sharp wit, and his famed pink driver.
Watson represented the US golf team at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, tying for eighth place. He was the highest-ranked golfer to represent his nation at the Olympics. In 2022, Watson joined the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Series, resigning from the PGA Tour and drawing criticism due to Saudi Arabia's poor human rights record.
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He's the captain of the RangeGoats team
Bubba Watson is not retiring from golf; instead, he joined LIV Golf in July 2022 as a non-playing team captain for the remainder of the season while he recovered from a torn meniscus. He also resigned from the PGA Tour.
Watson is the captain of the RangeGoats GC team, previously known as Niblicks GC. The name change was made official in February 2023. The RangeGoats name was chosen by Watson, who wanted to highlight the double meaning of the term "goat". In sports, "GOAT" refers to transcendent players who are considered the "Greatest Of All Time". However, "goat" can also refer to someone who makes a mistake and costs their team a victory. Watson also wanted the team's logo to reflect both the sport and the animal. The ears of the goat resemble iron clubheads, the goat's mouth looks like a tee, and its nose looks like a golf ball.
Watson has demonstrated his business acumen in discussing the commercial strategy for his team. He has emphasised the importance of the team's name and logo being well-received by golf fans and consumers. He also pointed out that LIV Golf is still in its early stages, having launched in June 2022, and that there is a lot of work to be done to grow the franchise and league.
The RangeGoats GC team, led by Watson, recently scored their first win in Singapore, bringing in a $3 million prize. This win also provides an opportunity to attract potential sponsors and grow the stature of the team and individual players. The team currently consists of four members, including Watson and Talor Gooch, who recently joined after leaving the 4Aces.
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Frequently asked questions
No, he has not retired from golf. In 2022, he joined LIV Golf as a non-playing team captain while recovering from a torn meniscus, with the intention of returning to play in 2023.
Bubba Watson is currently the captain of the RangeGoats team in LIV Golf. He is subject to relegation but can be brought back in 2025 if his team board is convinced there is a "business reason" for doing so.
Yes, Bubba Watson has previously admitted that he ""almost retired". In an interview, he spoke about his mental health struggles and how he used to let his golf performance dictate who he was as a person.
