LIV Golf pros (at least some) miss teeing off in PGA Tour events (at least in some). The rumor mill is hot with Brooks Koepka’s possible exit from the PIF-funded league, once his contract is over. The five-time major winner had kept it open till now. Now, another major champion, Bubba Watson, admitted he would love to play in some tournaments. Not that Watson wants to break away from LIV, but in a possible post-agreement world, he would like to go back to certain venues. 

The possible coming together of LIV Golf and the PGA Tour has been delayed quite a bit. The two parties failed to reach the self-imposed deadline of December 31, 2023. Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour Commissioner, revealed that they had to go back to the drawing board to chalk out a new deal altogether – meaning the framework agreement of June 6, 2023, had to be scrapped. 

But the backdoor talks are ongoing; the diplomatic channels, so to speak, are open. In fact, President Donald Trump has been actively involved in solving golf’s civil war. Both parties met in the White House for a three-hour-long meeting, which apparently left the PIF governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, in a bit of a dismay. The valuation of LIV Golf has been a sticking point – one of many – in the negotiations.

Bubba Watson exists far outside this world of savvy golfers-turned-businessmen-turned-diplomats.

The RangeGoats captain, like most of his peers (and fans), only hopes the deal is fast-tracked. Because he has no qualms about admitting that there are some tournaments he truly misses playing on the PGA Tour. “First of all, I would love to play in some tournaments,” the two-time Masters champion said in a chat with Sean Zak of Golf.com. 

Travelers Championship and Genesis Invitational are two of them. Watson didn’t miss the TPC River Highland tourney since 2008 – the last one coming in 2021. He has won thrice (2010, 2015, and 2018), along with three further top-tens. Similarly, the Pensacola native has lifted silverware thrice at the Genesis Invitational (2014, 2016, and 2018). 

Then, there is the Zurich Classic.

To be clear, when Bubba Watson bested Webb Simpson in the 2011 iteration of the tournament, it was still a regular stroke-play event. In 2017, the Zurich Classic was transformed into a team event. Watson has had the luck to tee off five times since, netting three top tens.

“I love the team tournament in New Orleans. Been fun playing there,” added the two-time major champion.  If it’s any consolation, LIV Golf is in talks with City Park to host the tournament there for three years starting in 2026. But Watson was actually echoing his LIV Golf mate, Jon Rahm.

The Spaniard, soon after joining LIV Golf, expressed regret about not being able to tee off in a few tournaments. He was more keen on playing the WM Phoenix Open (Rahm resides in Scottsdale, Arizona). The 2023 Masters champion also wanted to tee off in the American Express and The Sentry—he was vacationing in Hawaii at that time.

But, hard luck.

The pathway back to the PGA Tour—if there will be one—is as much a thorny issue as LIV Golf’s valuation. Bubba Watson was aware that he would stonewall his chances of playing some of the tournaments he loves by joining LIV Golf. Not that he regrets wearing that LIV Letterman jacket, but you know, there are a few perks he had to forego. Like teeing off with your family member at the PNC Championship, which the RangeGoats captain misses more than anything.

Bubba Watson would love to bring his son to the PNC Championship

Bubba Watson has teed off a couple of times in the PNC Championship, the annual PGA Tour-sanctioned event that allows major winners to pair up with their relatives. Watson paired up with his father-in-law, Wayne Ball. In the recent chat, the 12-time PGA Tour winner said he would love to pair up with his son, Caleb. 

“PNC, we watch Charlie and Tiger. My son wants — you to know, dream of that. When I went to LIV, I told him, ‘Hey, we’re probably never gonna play in this. Maybe we can start our own father-son, do our own thing’,” said Bubba Watson. Interestingly, Caleb did hit a few balls on the range with Charlie Woods during the 2020 iteration. 

A year later, he was already asking his dad to bring the entire bag—Watson only let him bring a wedge and putter a year prior. As an LIV golfer, he is not allowed to play in the tournament now. But he keeps a close eye.

In fact, after this year’s edition, where the Woods and the Langers went head-to-head, Bubba Watson tweeted, “You know the @PNCchampionship is good for golf when I am watching it over the football games. Fun watching the excitement on the families (sic!) faces!!”

“As a family man, I’d rather play with my son. That’s fun. Like Tiger’s having a blast.” Watson added in the recent chat. It remains to be seen if the two-time major winner will have that chance anytime soon. Bubba Watson will next play in LIV Golf Miami before heading to the Masters.