Bubba admits he's had panic attacks in the past

• By Jason Sobel
• Jan 2, 2013 8:03 PM ET

KAPALUA, Hawaii – Bubba Watson revealed in a news conference Wednesday that he has suffered from panic attacks in the past, including three hospital visits during which he underwent extensive tests.

In response to a question about Charlie Beljan, who suffered from panic attacks while winning last year’s Children’s Miracle Network Classic, Watson said, “I’ve had a lot of panic attacks off the golf course … thinking I was having something wrong with my heart and my wife is like, ‘What is wrong with you?’ So I’ve had some issues.”

The most recent panic attack occurred during the 2011 Northern Trust Open, when he posted an opening-round 76 before withdrawing from the tournament and checking himself into a hospital.

Photos: Bubba Watson through the years

Asked what doctors told him, he responded, “’There’s nothing wrong with you.’ I’ve done everything. I’ve done EKGs, we’ve done tests – all kinds of things. He told me basically I need medicine. I need medicine that helps me calm down, which I’m not going to do. I don’t take medicine, so I would never do that.”

Watson explained that the three circumstances which required hospitalization have occurred in two-year increments, with the last coming two years ago next month.

“So this year, get ready,” he joked. “I’ll tweet some photos from my room, I guess.”