PINEHURST, N.C. – Much like host course Pinehurst No. 2, Bubba Golf is apparently undergoing a renovation this week.
Bubba Watson, the reigning Masters champion known for his hitting it a mile and taking risks, is pledging to incorporate a more conservative style of golf at the U.S. Open.
“It’s about hitting fairways,” Watson said on Tuesday. “I say hit fairways and then just go with a longer shot into these tough greens. Not saying it’s the right strategy, hopefully in four days I can tell you it was a great strategy. But that’s what I’m planning right now.”
He maintained that there is a premium on keeping the ball in play this week.
“It’s a second-shot golf course, the greens are so difficult. There’s a lot of times I’m going to be laying back, I’m going to have 200-plus yards into par-4s. But all-in-all it’s a good challenge. It’s a good test. That’s what we want.”
Read between the lines, though, and Watson isn’t the biggest fan of the turtleback greens.
“The greens are so unfriendly, I guess is the best way to say it,” he explained. “These greens were built back in the early days when green speeds were a little slower. So I believe that these green speeds we’re putting them to and the firmness we’re putting them to makes it unfriendly, we’ll say.”
As for that Bubba Golf 2.0 strategy? Well, we’ll see how long it lasts.
“If I make a few bogeys and doubles right quick, I might switch to the driver.”