Bubba Watson Player Profile & Career Earnings

*wins and career earnings current through December 2022

Bubba Watson is one of the most accomplished left-handed golfers in golf history. Known for his exceptional driving distance, Watson played his collegiate golf at Faulkner State Community College before transferring to the University of Georgia. While at UGA, Watson helped lead the Bulldogs to the SEC title in 2000.

In 2002, Watson turned pro and began playing on the Nationwide Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour), where he played for three years. Watson's rookie year on the PGA Tour was 2006, and he led the tour in average driving distance at 319.6 yards.

His first contention in a big event came in the 2007 U.S. Open, when he was in the final group on Saturday at Oakmont Country Club. Two weekend scores of 74 ended his chase for victory, however.

Watson had to wait until 2010 to claim his first PGA Tour win at the Travelers Championship. Watson won the event on the second playoff hole against Corey Pavin and Scott Verplank. That same year, Watson played well and went to a playoff at the PGA Championship but would eventually fall (along with Dustin Johnson) to Martin Kaymer.

Watson won twice in 2011 and entered the 2012 Masters riding three top-five finishes on the season. Watson began the final round of the Masters six strokes back of the lead, but after posting a score of 68 along with a lot of movement at the top of the leaderboard, Watson found himself in a playoff with Louis Oosthuizen. On the 10th hole (second playoff hole) Watson drove his ball into the woods but hit one of the more memorable shots in Masters history to recover from the pine straw. His 164-yard recovery shot bent 40 yards and finished 15-feet from the hole.

Oosthuizen ultimately made bogey, and Watson won with a par the hole for his first major championship.

After going winless in 2013, Watson won three times in 2014, including his second major, yet another Masters win. He entered the final round tied with Jordan Spieth for the lead, but Spieth faltered through the middle of the round, giving Watson a four-shot advantage that he did not relinquish. Winning his second green jacket moved Watson to No. 4 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

From 2014 to 2018, Bubba Watson won six more times on the PGA Tour. In total, he has earned $48,049,777 in his career.

Watson has been a part of four U.S. Ryder Cup teams (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018) and two U.S. Presidents Cup teams (2011 and 2015).

With all of Bubba Watson’s career achievements, there have been several controversies. In 2011, he criticized the Alstom Open de France, a European Tour event, for its security and organization. Watson said he would never play at another European Tour event.

In 2013, video captured an exchange between Watson and his caddie, Ted Scott, at the Travelers Championship. Watson reprimanded Scott for a club selection which resulted in Watson hitting his ball into a water hazard.

In 2016, he was critical of TPC Scottsdale and the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The entire week of the tournament, fans at the event voiced their displeasure with Watson’s comments. Watson blamed the media for taking his comments out of context.

Finally, in 2022, Watson left the PGA Tour to join the LIV Golf circuit. Watson could only be a non-playing team captain as he was recovering from a torn meniscus.

Bubba Watson’s golf swing is one of the more unique swings in golf. His stance is usually wide open, and he uses his torso and long arms to generate power. He plays a big draw with most clubs, but mainly with his driver.