Bubba’s sequel stops great Spieth story

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Somewhere buried in the backs of thousands of closets in America are BubbaGolf shirts.

They were sold in 276 Steve & Barry's clothing stores, including one at Cedar Rapids' Westdale Mall.

Watson held a news conference on the day before the 2007 John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill., to announce the clothing line. He was a second-year PGA Tour player who hadn't yet won on that circuit and was another three years from doing so.

To the media mopes who attended his news event in the hospitality tent behind TPC of Deere Run's 17th green, it was a free lunch and a free shirt.

Two days later, Watson was disqualified from the Deere for using a club after he bent it. He was on his way to missing the 36-hole cut anyway. The next year, Steve & Barry's filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and was out of business by 2009.

So Bubbagolf, the clothing line, disappeared. Bubba's golf, however, had yet to hint at the enormous moments to come.

Sunday, Watson simply wouldn't fold on the back nine holes at Augusta National. The most-dramatic thing about the back nine was the fact Watson didn't play it safe on the par-5 15th, instead opting to punch his second shot through some trees and over the pond in front of the green.

'To even consider that shot considering the position he's in. I give up,' David Feherty said during the CBS telecast. 'I'm in a state of shock at him doing that with a three-shot lead.'

But Watson carried the water with a wicked draw, parred the hole, pet a 3-shot lead, and held it to the end.

'You know me,' Watson said in his winner's news conference.

So that's two Masters titles in three years for Watson. This one wasn't quite the crowd-pleaser Bubba's playoff win over Louis Oosthuizen was in 2012. A lot of television viewers, Masters spectators and working press in Augusta's media center favored Jordan Spieth.

The idea of Spieth becoming the youngest Masters winner of all-time appealed to many, especially given how calmly and effectively he played his way into a share of the lead after 54 holes.

The 20-year-old Texan had a 2-shot lead over Watson after seven holes Sunday. By the end of the ninth hole, Watson was up by two. That was the last of the lead-changes.

Spieth didn't fall apart, finishing with an even-par 72 to Watson's 69. But he showed frustration and anxiety on the back nine as if he were, well, 20 years old and on a larger, more-pressure-packed stage than most pros ever experience in their lives.

'It stings right now,' Spieth said, 'and the only thing I'm thinking about is when am I getting back next year. That's what's on my mind, because it's tough. It's tough being in this position.

'Obviously I've worked my whole life to lead Augusta on Sunday, and although I feel like it's very early in my career, and I'll have more chances, it's a stinger. And I had it in my hands and I could have gone forward with it and just didn't quite make the putts and that's what it came down to. '

A lot of players would have talked about how proud they were to have done what Spieth did over 72 holes. But this guy came here to win the tournament, and nothing less.

Had Spieth prevailed? Oh, the boost our region's Tour event would have gotten. Last year, 19-year-old Spieth won the John Deere Classic on the fifth hole of sudden-death playoff against Zach Johnson and David Hearn. He became the youngest winner of a Tour event in 82 years.

'He'll be here June 2nd (for Media Day) and he'll be here to defend for our week in July,' JDC tournament director Clair Peterson said Sunday afternoon while Spieth was holding the lead on the front nine.

'He's such a mature kid, such a grounded athlete and individual.'

Peterson couldn't have been blamed had he been licking his chops when Spieth holed a bunker shot for a birdie on the fourth hole here Sunday. It was reminiscent of when Spieth holed out from a rear greenside bunker on the 72nd hole of regulation last July to get into the JDC's playoff.

CBS showed that clip during its Sunday telecast. That had to be a first, a John Deere Classic highlight amid a Masters. But the JDC has long offered sponsor's exemptions to top collegiate players, and extended one to Spieth in 2012 when he was still a Texas Longhorn. He made the 36-hole cut.

Last year, Spieth was a rookie pro without PGA Tour status when the Deere invited him again. He finished the year on the U.S.' Presidents Cup team with Johnson and 10 of the nation's other greatest players. This year, he will arrive at TPC Deere Run with the tag 'world-class player' attached to his name.

If only the tourney could woo Watson back. He missed the 36-hole cut on his last visit, in 2010. He, too, is world-class.

There are no more Bubbagolf shirts being made, but Watson has the kind of sporty attire few others have owned: A second green jacket.

l Comments: (319) 368-8840; mike.hlas@sourcemedia.net