Money List vs OWGR: Bubba Watson Issues a Major Concern That Can Alter Golf Future Dynamics

Team RangeGoats GC is on a high this year at LIV Golf 2023, with Talor Gooch currently at number 1. At his recent runner-up win at LIV Golf Jeddah, too, Gooch pocketed a neat $18 million bonus cheque as an individual champion. And Bubba Watson, captain of RangeGoats GC, is feeling good about the win. But captain Watson is thinking big and suggesting some major changes in the game of golf.

Talor Gooch has already won thrice on the LIV Golf circuit in 2023. His ranking has also improved thanks to it. However, Bubba Watson feels that the aim should not be the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). 

Money List or OWGR – Bubba Watson’s take

While speaking at the press conference of the LIV Golf Team Championship Miami 2023, Bubba was in favor of the Money List rather than the OWGR. “I’ve been saying since the beginning of LIV…we shouldn’t go after World Ranking points. We should go after top 10, Top 15 on the Money List, our points list on LIV should get into majors. Makes it easy,” Watson said.

“These guys are so good. The Top 10 this year could play against anybody. You could make a US Team, you could make a European Team, they could play with anybody…our top 10. So that’s how you should get into majors…I’ve been saying that forever. Forget points. Just go straight off the Money List, try to get 10 people, or 15 get in; trying to get more people, so 15,” Watson explained.

The captain, who had been suffering health issues and had had a surgery, is focusing on new ways to keep his team on Number 1. As he looks after his diet and recovery, he wants to make sure his team is also winning.

Captain’s Gameplan 

Watson wants to win the title and aims to study Captain Dustin Johnson’s Team 4Aces GC. The RangeGoats will hang out with 4Aces on the off day and have a friendly match. This is part of Watson’s plan for his boys. Further, he also wants the League to not just pit captains against each other.

For instance, he would like to “put Talor out first.” He elaborated, “He’s played pretty good this year. That’s the one thing in the League that I wish we could change just so that if DJ called us out, I could put him against Talor, you know what I’m saying.”

ALSO READ: LIV Golf Main Man Talor Gooch Gushes About ‘Full Circle’ Moment as Boss Greg Norman Unexpectedly Gets Down on One Knee

The RangeGoats captain is preparing for next year. About his personal journey post surgery, he said, “For me personally, it’s learning…how to be an owner/captain and get people to do things but also practice golf at the same time.”

The two-time Masters champion came on board LIV in 2022. He is pretty serious about his performance, and had told his team they could kick him out “if they don’t think I am good enough to play,” as he had said in an interview in August.

Looking at this focus on the team, it looks like Bubba Watson is here to stay at LIV and RangeGoats.

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