Losing someone changes a person entirely, and when you lose your parent, it has a lasting effect on your life, whether apparent or not. And that’s what happened with Bubba Watson in October 2010. The then-PGA Tour pro lost his dear father to throat cancer. However, the next season, the disheartened Watson’s game improved a lot as he won two events on the Tour. Did his father’s death have a sobering effect on his game? It certainly did.

In an interview with Jeff Rude in 2012, the 2-time Masters winner shared where he got his tendency to cry on the course, and he said that it was from his father, who acted tough but was an emotional person. While explaining that, Watson also revealed the effect his death had on him.

He somberly added that once he started figuring out life, “What I truly believe, what I should stand for, and what I want to do in my life made me realize that golf is just a game.” It was only after losing his father did he understood that his family was more important than anything else. But such a sudden change in his demeanor was not easy to come.

He still wanted to improve, play better, and prioritize his family. But once the cameras turn on, everything is different. He had to learn that people are watching and stop being nervous around big crowds. He said, “I have to learn all these things. I have fears just like anybody else. I’m not a  Superman and so golf is just what I do for a living, but I do a lot of other things that I just don’t make money.” 

Golf is what Watson does for a living. Many golfers, such as Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele also have this point of view. At this year’s Masters, the world’s apex golfer also mentioned, “Golf is just something that I do, it’s not my life.” Athletes are also humans and they feel things just as their fans do. Take Rory McIlroy‘s short break after his US Open heartbreak for instance.

This one heartbreaking incident shaped Watson into a much more sensible person as he learned to balance golf and life. And amidst that, he understood one thing that probably helped him after he moved to LIV Golf from the PGA Tour, and the wrath of the golf world was upon him.

Bubba Watson shares a life lesson

Bubba Watson joined the breakaway circuit in 2022, and as soon as he did, the critics tore him apart as all the other defectors were also under the radar. Being a star on the PGA Tour to being suspended, there was a lot of chatter, but it seems it wouldn’t have had any effect on Watson. In his 12-year-old interview, the 2-time Masters winner was narrating his life after his father’s unfortunate death. While doing so, the 46-year-old said, “Doesn’t matter what negative press there is, what positive press there is other things I do in my life” than just golf.

He alluded to taking care of his mother, supporting his wife, Angie Watson, and having his friends around him. He even then said that whether he was in great form or shooting low, it didn’t matter. “My life is still going to keep going no matter if I miss the cut, no matter if I’m playing on tour” or not. It seems clear that Watson always had his family in his mind rather than just golf or the PGA Tour. He loved the game but not as much as his close ones.

He was grateful that he could achieve many of his dreams and live a successful life where his bills were paid; he was donating to charities and helping other junior golfers. What else would Watson want more then or even now? Thus, he probably chose LIV Golf over the PGA Tour as he wanted to support his family better financially. Nonetheless, from 2011 to now, Watson has adjusted many times, and his father’s death put all things in perspective for the 15-time PGA Tour winner, making him a caring family man and a great golfer.