Sunday 29 April 2012
Thursday 26 April 2012
Reflection on The Masters and Bubba's win
Masters reflection.
I normally struggle to keep awake to watch the conclusion of the
Masters, but not this year. I was riveted to my chair watching events unfold,
particularly intrigued to see what Bubba Watson was going to do next! His
unpredictability, skill and imagination took my thoughts back to the late Seve
Ballesteros and the excitement he gave when watching him play golf.
For the purists who love the almost perfect swing of runner up Louis
Oosthuizen, Bubba’s win must have been hard to take. The contrast in styles and
ways of playing the game just highlight how wonderful the game of golf is. Louis’s
interview immediately after his play-off defeat not only showed what a class
sportsman he is but also gave us an insight into the difference in how the two
play when he said;
“He (Bubba) must
have a great feel for the game. I mean, it's great knowing you almost have
every little shot there is. That's really entertaining to play with him, to see
the shots he's taking on and shots that I don't really see or I would ever
hit.”
So what makes
Bubba’s approach so different? We do know he does not rely on a coach and has
not been restricted by conditioning from formal teaching methods. One would
think that at some stage of his development someone must have explained to him
how to create spin on the golf ball. He was obviously allowed to explore and
discover different ways of playing and creating different outcomes. In one
interview I heard him say that he bent the ball (in flight) because it was so
much easier than trying to hit the ball straight.
Bubba certainly
does things in a different way. He says he’s self- taught and he is not afraid
to be different. His pink coloured driver raises money for a breast cancer
charity every time he hits the ball over 300 yards and the white outfit he wore
everyday of the Masters raised money for a children’s charity.
I for one find it
refreshing that someone like Bubba, who appears to feel comfortable in his own
skin, can be successful while having fun and pushing the boundaries of how we
perceive we should play the game. The game of golf is better for having Bubba
around and let us hope that youngsters coming into the game will be allowed to
have the freedom to express their skills and have fun exploring while playing.
Some of us experienced golfers may also want to look at how we play and may be
encouraged to know that there is a different way to playing and that bending
the ball is as skillful as hitting it straight if done with intent.
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