Bubba Watson arrives in San Francisco on Saturday to prepare for next week’s U.S. Open at The Olympic Club. The Masters winner will compete in his first major championship since joining the exclusive major winners club in April.
‘It’s going to be amazing - a different feel, different energy - but the best part about it is that it shows me, mentally, that I can do it,’ Watson said on ‘Morning Drive’ Friday. ‘It doesn’t mean that I’m going to do it every time, but it just shows mentally I can be there on Sunday afternoon.’
Watson has played sparingly since his Augusta triumph. He finished T-18 as defending champion at the Zurich Classic at the end of April, then missed the cut at the Memorial Tournament last week.
The world No. 5 knows a missed cut is not always indicative of poor play.
‘I missed the cut at Humana (Challenge last year), then I won Torrey Pines,’ he said. ‘I was very close. People talk about being very close. I’m close.’
The U.S. Golf Association will present a difficult test at the Lake Course. Watson, who will be grouped with Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods the first two rounds, embraces it.
‘It’s about challenging yourself,’ he said, ‘and that’s what the U.S. Open does.’