Bubba Watson storms to victory at WGC-Dell Match Play

Bubba Watson rolled through both Justin Thomas and Kevin Kisner on Sunday, bringing home the WGC-Dell Match Play title at Austin Country Club.

During a two-year winless drought on the PGA TOUR, Bubba Watson admitted that he had thoughts of retirement. After all, he wasn’t getting any younger, and health challenges and a failed golf ball switch hadn’t done him any favors.

Safe to say, those thoughts are long gone, as Watson steamrolled his way to victory on Sunday at the WGC-Dell Match Play, defeating Kevin Kisner 7&6. The win was his second in the last five weeks, and the 11th of his illustrious PGA TOUR career.

This win, surprisingly, was the first for Bubba at the Match Play. When you think of “Bubba Golf”, you think of a game that, when it’s on, is custom-fit for these scenarios. The big miss can’t cost him any more than a single hole. And when things are working, his opponents are left scratching their heads at just how he gets his golf ball to do those crazy things.

Good Bubba, the guy who fans all around golf love, is definitely the one who showed up this weekend in Texas’s state capital. He basically wasn’t challenged at all, despite playing some of the best players in golf today. After dispatching of the 18-seed, Brian Harman, 2&1 in the round of 16, Bubba burned Kiradech Aphibarnrat (5&3) and Justin Thomas (3&2).

That semifinal, frankly, wasn’t that close. Thomas couldn’t make a putt all day, and by about the 13th hole he seemed to be all but checked out. That’s what match play does to people – especially when their opponent is prepared for the knockout.

Bubba Watson on top of his game again – with his sights set on the Masters

While he may not come right out and say it, you know it has to be on Bubba’s mind. The Masters is less than two weeks away, and as much as Bubba enjoys donning the green jacket on Augusta’s hallowed grounds, he’s looking to have it draped over his shoulders in Butler Cabin once again.

The usually-emotional Watson fought back tears in his post-round interviews, but he immediately gave credit to his ability to focus again on the golf course. He’s healthy, and he said that there were only “five or six shots” all week where he wasn’t 100% committed.

That’s the type of focus that won him both of his Masters championships, and he should jump up the list of favorites in Vegas with this win.

Perhaps Bubba’s most effective weapon down the stretch in Austin was his driver. He was deadly, hitting the big, swooping cut shot to set up some his approaches into some abnormally quick greens.

Does that sound familiar at all?

It seems like every week this year, we’ve watched big name after big name return to greatness, and it’s not like the new generation is slacking off, either. It’s hard to remember a time – recently, at least, when we’ve had this much pure talent all on top of their game at the same time.

Next: Tiger Woods, Ernie Els named 2019 Presidents Cup captains

This spring is shaping up to be a whole lot of fun. And there’s not a player who defines “fun” in golf more than Bubba. This might just be the beginning for the hard-hitting southpaw.