Bubba Watson is back in action after eight months out with a knee injury just in time to finally make his playing debut in LIV Golf at the start of their second season next month.
Watson had surgery to repair a torn meniscus but after battling through his recovery, he will now be ready to tee it up at next week’s Asian Tour season opener at the PIF Saudi International.
The two-time Masters champion will then be able to return to action in the newly re-branded LIV Golf League as it begins a second season at Mayakoba.
Watson last played competitively at the PGA Championship in May, before joining LIV Golf as a non-playing captain of the Niblicks GC.
He was also deployed out onto the course to use his personality as an on-course reporter during the final five events of the inaugural LIV Golf season, but now wants to swap the microphone for his golf clubs.
Watson had surgery in June, and has slowly been working his way back to full speed ever since, and although he’s now able to return to action, his leg still hasn’t fully recovered.
“I’m still trying to build that leg muscle up,” Watson said. “I wouldn’t say I’m 100% on the leg muscle being equal (to his left). But I’m really close. I’ll say we’re 10, 15% off one leg to the other. I’m walking fine, no pain. It’s now trusting that I can really finish on that leg.
“There’s going to be a few swings here and there where you just kind of revert back to old thoughts. So it’s like anything. It’s almost like teaching yourself to swing again or hit again. Now it’s all on me.”
Watson said his golfing return got off to a winning start, saying: “I just beat my caddie and my wife. So I got that going for me.”
And after having to comment on Patrick Reed helping his 4 Aces GC win the Team Championship in Miami, Watson is more than happy to get back to being back on the playing side of things.
“Knowing Patrick over these years and being able to see his excitement for that, it made me want to do it. Made me want to go home and grind so I can have that chance to pull something like that for my team,” Watson said.
“This is why we joined LIV, for the team aspect. I’m anxious to get back with the team and try to pull off amazing shots.
“I’d rather miss a 3-footer than have to come up with words to talk about golf.”