Bubba Watson will skip next week’s PLAYERS Championship in order to spend more time at home with his wife and their newly adopted 2-month-old son Caleb.
The Masters champion made the announcement Thursday via Twitter, saying, “I’ve decided to pull out of the PLAYERS. I need to spend more time with Caleb and Angie, plan to take at least a month off. The PLAYERS is one of the best weeks of the year but bonding with my son and wife is what it is all about right now.”
Watson has played just once, at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he was the defending champion. He tied for 18th in the event and talked about not having enough time with his new son since winning his first career major and returning from a two-day media blitz in New York.
Earlier, Watson pulled out of this week’s Wells Fargo Championship. He said Thursday he planned to take at least a month off.
“Sorry to disappoint fans but the PLAYERS has one of the best fields all year, tourney is more than fine without me” Watson tweeted. “I feel blessed and excited that I get to spend quality time with Caleb and Angie in the next few weeks. I am lucky to play golf for a living, it allows me to pick my own schedule.”
Watson has made nine starts this season and hasn’t finished outside the top 18. He has played in the PLAYERS every year since 2007 with his best finish coming in 2009 when he tied for 37th. In three of his five trips to TPC Sawgrass, he’s missed the cut.
"We respect Bubba’s decision in light of the unique and life-changing circumstances of the past month,” said Ty Votaw, Executive Vice President of Communications and International Affairs for the PGA TOUR. “His focus on his family is admirable, as was his decision to honor his commitment to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans as defending champion. We look forward to having him back on the TOUR soon."
