DORAL, Fla. — Rory McIlroy thought he might have a chance at 59. Tiger Woods opened with three straight birdies and made a charge of his own. None of this bothered Bubba Watson, who figured he could go just as low Saturday at the Cadillac Championship.
DORAL, Fla. — Rory McIlroy thought he might have a chance at 59. Tiger Woods opened with three straight birdies and made a charge of his own. None of this bothered Bubba Watson, who figured he could go just as low Saturday at the Cadillac Championship.
All the noise about McIlroy and Woods soon disappeared when Watson started eagle-birdie.
And even when Justin Rose ran off four straight birdies to catch him, Watson responded with a style of golf only he plays. He plunked a man in the gallery on one hole and regained the lead with a birdie.
His target on another hole was a man in an orange shirt, and he hit that one to tap-in range for another birdie.
When his wild day ended with what Watson called his best shot of the day (“I chipped a low bullet 7-iron”) on the 18th for a routine par on a hole that makes him nervous, he had a 5-under 67 and a three-shot lead.
If the last two days were not enough evidence, Watson likes to play golf his way.
He has never had a swing coach since his late father showed him the fundamentals at age 10. He once jokingly said he shouldn’t take advice from anyone who couldn’t beat him. And when asked if his caddie helps him out, Watson replied, “He’s not very good. That’s why he’s a caddie.”