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Bubba Watson, Hideki Matsuyama to Miss Open Due to Covid-19

By Christian Paszko

NORTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 03: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and Bubba Watson of the United States wait on the fourth tee during the final round of the Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston on September 3, 2018 in Norton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
NORTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 03: Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and Bubba Watson of the United States wait on the fourth tee during the final round of the Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston on September 3, 2018 in Norton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /
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This year’s Open Championship will be without two major champions. Bubba Watson and Hideki Matsuyama will both miss The Open due to Covid-19 related issues.

Hideki Matsuyama had tested positive for Covid-19 last week, forcing him to withdraw from the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Matsuyama also cited a lack of practice time as a reason he has withdrawn for The Open.

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“I’m feeling fine but haven’t been able to practice in preparation for The Open”, Matsuyama said in a statement. He would go on to say how the travel to the United Kingdom would’ve been difficult, especially after the quarantine period that is required.

Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion, will be replaced by Harold Varner III for The Open Championship.

Bubba Watson will also miss The Open Championship due to having “direct exposure to someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.” he announced via Twitter.

Watson is vaccinated, but Covid-19 protocols will keep him on the shelf. Watson would say in his statement, “I appreciate the R&A’s guidance an help navigating UK policy for such situations.”

Watson, the 2012 and 2014 Masters winner, will be replaced by Brendan Steele in The Open Championship field.

Obviously it’s disappointing to have both of these guys miss the final major of the year. They’re both tremendous golfers. Bubba’s creativity and big hitting ability still leaves me in awe sometimes, and Hideki’s consistency is always tough to match.

However, that’s the nature of the beast. Covid-19 is still out there, and protocols differ in every country. It’s exacerbated with players coming in from around the world too. Combine that with the rules the R&A has set up, and you have a very strict set of circumstances.

As unfortunate as their situations are, the right call was made for both of them. I know we’d all rather have them in England than not, but public health remains priority number one.

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Despite Watson and Matsuyama being out, it should be a great week out at Royal St. George’s. There are tons of storylines, as there are for every major, and there should be a plethora of golfers that can put their name on the Claret Jug.

We’ll miss them, but they’ll be back next year, until then lets buckle up for the great moments that await us in the 149th Open Championship.

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