5 Reasons Why Bubba Watson Will Repeat as Masters Champion in 2015
Odds Shark presently lists Rory McIlroy as the favorite to win the green jacket at Augusta National this year. With McIlroy's recent struggles, however, Bubba Watson will be taking home his third Masters title.
Watson, who finished third at last week's WGC-Cadillac Championship, is in the driver's seat—much more so than McIlroy or any other serious contender—with the Masters three weeks away.
Why exactly will Bubba again be slipping on the green jacket this year? I'll give you five reasons.
Sidebar: Will he have to slip it on himself as the reigning champion?
Regardless, here are the reasons.
The Enjoyment Factor
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Unlike, say, seemingly every Open Championship course or Doral, Watson actually likes playing Augusta National...a lot.
"Even though I'm 36, I still feel like a kid when I get to Augusta," Watson said recently, per Ryan Ballengee of Yahoo Sports. "It's the home of golf. It's the mecca of golf. I mean, who doesn't want to be a member there? Who doesn't want to be able to play there? Who doesn't want to put on that green jacket? Everybody gets excited there."
Watson's attitude goes a long way, as he's one of the most mercurial players on tour. The fact that he likes Augusta and plays well there makes it less likely that he'll be grumpy, distracted or berating caddie Ted Scott on the hallowed grounds.
Strokes Gained
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Don't worry about the slight decline in Watson's driving distance this year or the modest dip in his greens-in-regulation rate.
Feast on these stats instead: Watson's strokes-gained rankings.
| 2014 Strokes Gained: Putting | 110 |
| 2014 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green | 7 |
| 2014 Strokes Gained: Total | 9 |
| 2015 Strokes Gained: Putting | 15 |
| 2015 Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green | 4 |
| 2015 Strokes Gained: Total | 1 |
Thus, Watson is putting much better so far in 2015 compared to his efforts on the greens last year, and he is a bit better from tee to green. He's leading the tour in total strokes gained and is playing better overall golf than anyone this season.
Imagination and Execution
3 of 5After Watson won the Masters last year, his friend and Sunday pursuer, Rickie Fowler, had this to say, per ESPN:
"This place suits him perfectly. I think of the shot he hit in the playoff a couple years ago. I was down there today actually and I pitched out. He's able to hit golf shots around here that some guys can't. So this place fits him perfectly. It's fitting for him to win here."
Fowler, of course, was referencing the wonder-hook Watson played with a wedge on the second playoff hole to win his first Masters in 2012.
He also cited the left-hander's ability to hit shots that other golfers can't. For evidence of that, watch the ludicrous drive Watson hit at the 13th last year to dramatically shorten the hole (video above). Is there anyone else on tour who would think of cutting the corner like Watson did? Is there another golfer who could pull it off?
This gets to the heart of why Watson is best suited to win the Masters this year: He can both conceive of and execute shots like the ones above. No other golfer in the field will be able to make the same claim.
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No Pressure
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Watson enters the Masters feeling no pressure. He said as much, per The Telegraph:
"There's no pressure on me—I've got two jackets already. And if you were just looking at me and McIlroy [who had the most pressure on them], I would say McIlroy. If it were the other way around me, then all the pressure would be on me."
He's right. The lion's share of the media attention has been on Rory McIlroy in the lead-up to the Masters. Speculation, scrutiny and prognostication have only increased with the Ulsterman's recent run of substandard play.
Think about it: At the Champions Dinner, Watson (the reigning champ) will be something of a guest at his own party, as all eyes will be on McIlroy and all hushed whispers will be concerning him.
Watson's only non-win at the Masters in his last three tries came in 2013 when he was overwhelmed by the duties of being the reigning champion, and he finished tied for 50th. Now that he has experience with the aforementioned duties, he should have a better handle on dealing with them—expect him to win.
He's Playing Well Right Now
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Looking at Watson's finishes this season, the left-hander has played some quality golf in the young 2014-2015 campaign.
| Tournament | Finish |
| WGC-HSBC Champions | P1 |
| Hyundai Tournament of Champions | 10 |
| Waste Management Phoenix Open | T2 |
| Northern Trust Open | T14 |
| WGC-Cadillac Championship | 3 |
The table above really speaks for itself: Watson is approaching Augusta with his game in shape.
Similarly, check out his finishes in stroke-play events immediately prior to the Masters last year (excluding the allergy-related withdrawal from the Arnold Palmer Invitational): WGC-Cadillac Championship (T2), Northern Trust Open (1).
Bubba went into Augusta hot last year and left with a green jacket. He's primed to do the same this time around.
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