PGA TOUR: Ranking the top 5 comebacks of 2018

2017 simply wasn’t Bubba Watson’s year. Watson, a two-time Masters champion, saw his health decline after winning the Northern Trust Open in February 2016. The 40-year-old dealt with an undisclosed medical condition and dropped 20 pounds. Ultimately, the condition greatly affected his play throughout the 2016-2017 PGA Tour season which led to seven missed cuts (out of 22 events), a withdrawal and just four top-10s. He later told Golf Digest that his health issues made him nearly consider retiring from professional golf.

But things began to look up for Watson in 2018 when he returned to the Genesis Open (the tournament previously known as the Northern Trust Open), and earned his first win in nearly two years, finishing 12-under par.

Tears filled his eyes as he gushed on the 18th green in his post-round interview.

“There’s so many emotions going through my head right now,” Watson said. “Never know if you’re gonna play good again, never know if you’re going to lift a trophy again.”

He would follow up that stellar performance with an additional two wins within the 2017-18 season. He outlasted Kevin Kisner in WGC-Dell Match Play. At the Travelers Championship, he showed up tournament leader Paul Casey by shooting 7-under in the final round and brought himself up to a total of 12 career PGA Tour wins. Watson also earned himself a spot on the 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup team, his first time in four years on the team, representing the United States for the fourth time in his career overall.