DORAL, Fla. – For the majority of LIV Golf’s first season Bubba Watson served as a non playing captain.
Watson, a two-time Masters winner, joined the new circuit as a non playing captain at the third tournament of the inaugural season in New Jersey while he was rehabbing a torn lateral meniscus. Watson stated that he wanted to reach 100 percent health before playing in LIV 2023. He has only had three top-20 finishes from 13 starts. Remember that LIV only features 48 players.
Watson, who has been a RangeGoats GC captain for just a year, is already looking to the future. He will be returning to a role other than playing.
But I will eventually stop playing. Watson said that he would eventually stop playing, but he was still looking forward to the LIV Golf Team Championship this week at Trump National Doral. I’m going be the owner who shows up at the tournaments and cheers on the guys. Get the younger crowd, better golfers. Since the beginning, I have told myself that if you think I am not good enough, let’s find someone better. Let them play and I will just watch. I’ll be on the other side of ropes and cheer you all the way. I’ll watch you play golf in the hot weather from the air-conditioned box.
“It is one of those things. I want play golf, I want compete but age will eventually win. “Age always wins,” he said. At that point, I hope that my team will come to me with open arms and we hug out, and we find someone younger, better, stronger and faster.
Watson finished the LIV season as the 36 th, just eight places and eight points away from the relegation area (although Watson’s position is assured for next season since he is the captain). He has been honest about his weakness all season. His team includes Talor Gooch (season-long individual champion), Harold Varner III, and Thomas Pieters. In the quarterfinals, and semifinals of the match play at the Team Championships, captains will play other captains. Watson may still want to play but that does not mean he is interested in playing other captains.
“Right away, the league dictates that captains play captains… I’d rather we pick and choose. Talor should be the first one out, because he has played well this year. “That’s one thing I would like to change in the League so that, if DJ calls us out, I can put him against Talor,” he said. “That’s one thing I would like to change.” You can choose your players and where they will be playing, just like in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.
Watson’s RangeGoats are the fourth team to finish the season in the standings. They will have the bye on Friday and can choose their opponent for Saturday. You can find the quarterfinal matches and pairings here.
