Getting blasted by a golf ball isn’t usually fun for anyone involved, but it was in this situation.
Bubba Waston bent it like Bubba on the par-4 13th hole at Tiburon Golf Club on Day 1 of the QBE Shootout, driving it right to the green. The ball would then ricochet off a spectator’s arm and land inches from a hole-in-one.
Super high drive ➡️ wild bounce ➡️ eagle putt.
Bubba golf. pic.twitter.com/m1IiyQ2Abv
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 10, 2021
Cameras focused on the fan after the shooting, as he rolled up the sleeve of his Buffalo Bills T-shirt to reveal a combat scar on the side of his upper right bicep. Before sinking his eagle putt, Watson signed his glove and gave it to a fan. Watson then gave one last signal to the fan before moving to No. 14.
After Round 1, everyone in Tiburon was delighted, especially Watson and his playing companion Lexi Thompson, who came close to carding an improbable ace on the par-3 fifth. Despite being three strokes off the lead after a 59, the two were pleased with their performance.
Thompson, the field’s lone LPGA player, said, “I think we did excellent about ham-and-egging it out there.” “I made a few birdies on the front nine, and then he stepped up on the back nine, driving the drivable hole to about 10 feet and then making a 2 on his own ball. All of this is fantastic with scramble and just working together as a team. It was simply a great time. I had a great time watching him play in person for the first time, and I’m looking forward to spending the next two days with him.”
And the three-time QBE Shootout champion, who observed the two major champs’ camaraderie firsthand in Round 1, believes the next two days will be even more enjoyable for them.
“Lexi played fantastic today,” said Harris English, who is tied for second at 15 under with Matt Kuchar. “She was driving it, putting it, and doing everything herself. I was blown away by her performance. I believe Bubba’s shot off the tower on No. 13 was incredible. I mean, eagle is in there. They’re a fantastic team, to be sure. They played fantastic golf, and I believe they’ll be in contention come Sunday.”
