Bubba Watson Speaks on TPC Scottsdale Before 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open

Despite consecutive Waste Management Phoenix Open second-place finishes, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson blasted TPC of Scottsdale's Stadium Course Wednesday night.

According to John Nicholson of the Associated Press (h/t PGA.com), the 37-year-old lefty's enjoyment of Scottsdale, Arizona, is trumped by his disdain for the course and its setup.

"I don't like it," Watson said. "I'm not going to PC it. I don't like it at all. Obviously, I'm here because of my sponsors and everything. I love coming here. It's always great weather. Used to have a house here. It's always beautiful coming here and playing here."

Per the aforementioned source, Watson believes course officials erred by renovating it in 2014, especially the eighth and 14th holes:

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I didn't see any reason to change it. Again, they didn't ask me. It's just my own opinion. I didn't see any reason to change it.

But then you have 14, I think 490 (yards) uphill. (For) big hitters, it gets tight down there. No. 8, you've got the slope from right to left right in the bunkers, bunkers start at roughly 280, go to about 320. I don't see that you need to tighten it up. So just to me it just seems like all they did is just tightened it up. Scores didn't change. It just makes it goofier and tougher.

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The Bagdad, Florida, native wasn't completely negative about TPC Scottsdale, though, as he did praise the course's condition prior to Thursday's start of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

"This is the best shape I have ever seen it," Watson said. "The greens are running so quick right now. You're going to make a lot of putts. That's what I need to do."

On Friday, Watson backtracked on his sentiments, per ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss:

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"I have to apologize," Watson said after shooting a 2-under-par 69 in Friday's second round. "I used the wrong words. I have nothing against the fans and the tournament. The fans have been great. I love coming here. I've lived here for every winter for eight years. This is a beautiful place. The reason I'm here is because of the excitement around this golf tournament. The fans have been great.

"I used words that I shouldn't have used. I didn't explain myself well. My wife says that too when I go home; I don't communicate very well."

[...]

"It was about the golf course," Watson said. "I'm not a fan of the golf course. I've said that for the last, this would make 10 years, but I'm here for the excitement. How would you not be here to support the tournament that brings out the most people out of any tournament we play around the world?"

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Watson's issues with the course are somewhat surprising considering that he finished just one stroke behind the winner in each of the past two years.

His attitude hasn't stopped him from being a top contender, so there is every reason to believe that the big-hitting veteran will end up near the top of the leaderboard once again.

If he can somehow manage to close the gap this time around and come out on top rather than fall just short, then perhaps the owner of two green jackets will change his tune moving forward.  

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