Bubba Watson and the Most Likable Golfers of the Past Decade

Bubba Watson's performance at the Masters a few weeks ago has led to a wave of support in the golf world.

Fans will root for golfers who play golf the right way, show emotion, and have an engaging personality.

Watson has shown all three since joining the tour, and his win at the Masters has just elevated his popularity.

However, he is not alone. There are plenty of other guys on tour now and in the past who have become fan favorites.

Golf offers a rare opportunity for fan and player interaction while the event is going on, and fans appreciate the golfers who can both focus on the tournament and show their fans appreciation.

Here are some of the guys in the golf game over the past decade who are likable to fans.

1. Bubba Watson

Starting off the list is the Masters champion Bubba Watson.

After winning the Masters, Watson gained over 100,000 followers on Twitter, which is just one example of his newly gained popularity.

However, he still claims to be the same "ole Bubba." The "ole Bubba" is a family man, which is why he will not play at the Players Championship this weekend. He wants to spend more time with his new child and family.

Watson is an emotional player on and off the course. Emotions poured out of him at the final hole at Augusta. Watson's father passed away from cancer, and his wife was nearly diagnosed with the disease as well (it was discovered that she had a benign tumor).

Fans can relate to the emotion Watson is feeling and appreciate the humbleness he seemingly possesses.

As long as Watson remains the same "ole Bubba," he will continue to be one of the most liked golfers on tour.

2. Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson has always been well-liked since joining the PGA Tour.

Mickelson has an engaging personality and he loves to mingle with the gallery during a tournament. Whether it's giving high fives or striking a quick conversation, Mickelson is not afraid to embrace the fanfare during a tournament.

Mickelson is very polite when dealing with the media and always seems to have a smile on his face on the course.

Like Watson, Mickelson's wife had a battle with cancer which led to Mickelson postponing his tour schedule that season.

In 2010, he won the Masters and shared a special moment with his wife on the 18th green.

It's moments like these where fans truly see the human side of these superstar golfers.

These engaging moments are what makes Mickelson so popular among golf fans.

3. Fred Couples

Switching gears to a veteran player, there is Fred Couples.

Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated once wrote "Couples is like chocolate: nearly everybody likes him, and most people like him a lot."

That's about the perfect description of Couples, who plays the game with a great sense of calmness.

Couples doesn't use golf gloves, he wears spikeless shoes, and struts around the course with a unique walk.

It's easy to forget that Couples dominated the sport at one point as he won back-to-back majors.

However, he's always carried himself with the same sort of loose and silly golf game which fans admire.

His career is coming to an end, but his likability will continue forever.

4. Ernie Els

Ernie Els was one of the best golfers of the 90s but was also very well-liked and respected in the golf community.

Els has always been liked for his easy-going personality.

However, after Els' son Ben was diagnosed with autism, he has dedicated time and money to fighting the disease. Because of his actions, Els has gained even more worldwide respect.

Els vowed to never put golf before his family and moved his family to the United States, where he could use his money for the best treatment for his son's disease.

He also holds numerous charity events to raise money to help autistic children, and he hopes to build a center for autistic children.

Els is another prime example of a player's likability being associated with his life off the course, rather than his play on it.

5. Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy has emerged onto the scene in the last few years and appears to be on the track to stardom in the sport.

McIlroy just turned 23-years-old but is quickly becoming one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy looked to be well on his way to a Masters championship in 2011 before suffering a terrible meltdown.

It was a choke, and McIlroy knew it as well as anybody. He played poorly on the back nine at Augusta and he owned up to it, saying all the right things afterwards.

In the next major tournament, he won in dominating fashion.

It was a humbling and humiliating experience for the 21-year-old at the time. He handled the situation with class and has not let success at a young age go to his head.

If he continues to stay humble as he continues to succeed, golf fans will continue to root for McIlroy.

6. Rocco Mediate

Rocco Mediate has never been at a loss for words. He's not afraid to speak his mind and sometimes says things that people don't agree with.

However, it's just Rocco being Rocco and his natural personality.

Mediate is most famous for his playoff battle with Tiger Woods at the 2008 U.S. Open. He battled Woods in a one-on-one match, which eventually Woods won.

But Mediate took Woods to an extra hole and never backed down.

He embraced the underdog role all week, and in turn, the fans embraced him.

He'll talk to everyone. That's just the way he is.

Casual fans will most likely remember him as the guy who lost to Woods in the U.S. Open, but many will remember his outgoing personality which seemed to hook a lot of people.

7. Boo Weekley

Like Mediate, Boo Weekley has not exactly torn up the PGA Tour, but he made a name for himself at the 2008 Ryder Cup.

Weekley won all three of his matches and proceeded to ride his driver in a "cowboy horse" celebration in the fairway.

Search for "Weekley" on YouTube and you can find the celebration and other hilarious moments involving the golfer.

Those are some of the reasons why Weekley is considered one of the funnier players on tour.

Weekley's southern accent is also impossible to ignore when he speaks in interviews or press conferences.

Boo is just an overall funny dude. He's one of the guys that keeps the mood lighthearted at all times.

Weekley is an example of a player that has become likable due to his continued engagement with the gallery.

8. Rickie Fowler

Rickie Fowler is another young gun on the PGA Tour who is considered to be part of the future of golf.

Fowler is coming off his first American tour victory at Wells-Fargo.

He is just 23-years-old and has shown flashes of becoming a future star. Galleries love to cheer on Fowler at his tournaments in hopes he is the next American star golfer.

Fowler sticks out on Sundays as he wears his signature orange in support of his alma mater, Oklahoma State.

He also is a former dirt-biker which leaves an impression on the younger generation. That combined with his long hair gives him a cool persona.

Fans hope Fowler can reach his full potential in years to come.