What would you do if you were Bubba Watson?

[fundonny]

In case you didn't hear, Bubba couldn't play because he left his clubs with his caddy, who didn't show up on time.

[EDSGOLF]

If the excuse was not a valid one, I'd give him the Donald Trump : You're fired.

[KickerOfElves]

Kick my own butt for just hanging around, long after the caddy was supposed to show...waiting. You know, just waiting...doing nothing...not going to the hotel and banging on the door to wake up the person who carries the implements that I need to make a living.

Then I would go have a long closed door meeting with my 6'4" blonde agent/wife.

[Law]

I agree with ED, he better have a damn good excuse or, you're fired. Rent some clubs and hope for the best lol

[Golf_Putz]

A man should never be separated from the tools of his trade.

Serious question - this is a high end club the tournament is at. Is he not allowed to just go into the clubhouse and talk to the pro about one of the loaner sets? I'm sure they must have them... many low end clubs will let you rent a set.

I know they won't be his, feel different, etc etc but isn't this better than NOT completing the round?

Maybe he won't play his best with the new sticks, but - this guy's a pro and can probably hit decently with just about anything... and this would seem to be a simple response to avoid being 'turfed' from the competition. Or is there a PGA rule forbidding this?

[fundonny]

I don't think you're allowed to even tee off without your caddy.

[Sakuraba]

Didn't somebody win a pga tournament last year with a set he'd never used before, due to caddy error?

[Nat Williams]

It's no big deal .. 1st, my caddie is prolly my buddy (if not before being be caddy, then definatly by now, otherwise i'd have kicked him to the curb).

Missing 1 day is like my buddy forgetting to pick me up for work. I'll get over it

[LobWedge]

It's no big deal .. 1st, my caddie is prolly my buddy (if not before being be caddy, then definatly by now, otherwise i'd have kicked him to the curb).

Missing 1 day is like my buddy forgetting to pick me up for work. I'll get over it

Was $1.1 Million on the line the last time your buddy didn't make it?

[KickerOfElves]

Was $1.1 Million on the line the last time your buddy didn't make it?

I don't have anything against Bubba, but other than two top 10s early in year, I wouldn't be putting money down on Bubba walking away with the victory...if I was a betting man.

He's going to smash a ball right out of the cover, wow the gallery, miss a lot of fairways and maybe make the cut.

[LobWedge]

I don't have anything against Bubba, but other than two top 10s early in year, I wouldn't be putting money down on Bubba walking away with the victory...if I was a betting man.

He's going to smash a ball right out of the cover, wow the gallery, miss a lot of fairways and maybe make the cut.

True, but he'll never know because of the DQ. Brent Wetterich had never won before this week either...

[Nat Williams]

Was $1.1 Million on the line the last time your buddy didn't make it?

It's all relative. Me missing a day is as important to me as it is to him to miss a day @ his job.

If it was his 1 shot (i.e. exemption, monday qualifier etc) then this would be a HUGE deal. Fact is that in his position "there's always next week" ... who knows maybe he'd have missed the cut ... His caddy just saved him 2 days of frustration

[KickerOfElves]

True, but he'll never know because of the DQ. Brent Wetterich had never won before this week either...

Yes, that is completely true.

Maybe Bubba can look at Wetterich's 2005 season as inspiration, it looks a lot like Bubba's 2006 is shaping up.

[larry]

The Golf Channel did a piece on tour caddies a while back and one of the guys said he has 2 alarm clocks and a wake up call. Doesn't take any chances.

[spidey]

Every tour venue has an equipment trailer where the pros can take any clubs they want. There are sure to be clubs that roughly match any pros specs, close enough to use for a round.

There are also extra caddies at all tour venues. Since there are always 8 alternates, there are at least 8 alternate caddies. There is always a way to get a caddy. There are dozens of players each week that aren't playing. I can't see them refusing work.

Bubba was just a deer in the headlights. He'll learn.

[Indio]

Every tour venue has an equipment trailer where the pros can take any clubs they want. There are sure to be clubs that roughly match any pros specs, close enough to use for a round.

There are also extra caddies at all tour venues. Since there are always 8 alternates, there are at least 8 alternate caddies. There is always a way to get a caddy. There are dozens of players each week that aren't playing. I can't see them refusing work.

Bubba was just a deer in the headlights. He'll learn.

I am sure all this is true but I have to give Bubba the benefit of the doubt and believe that he had no time to get everything together and that he just waited for his caddy to show (although this is hard to do because you would think he would have wanted to warm up and would have sent the National Guard after him when he wasn't ther 30 to 60 minutes before!)

I guess we will never know what was going through his mind.

[Ginker]

No question the Caddy is gone

[spidey]

although this is hard to do because you would think he would have wanted to warm up

Exactly. He should have done it, but he obviously never had it happen before, so he froze. He should have realized that it was a problem at least an hour before when he should have been warming up. That's when his backup set should have been there, or he was walking to the equipment trailer with a shopping list.

Still, could be an interesting story about why the caddie didn't show.

-gorged at the buffet and went into a narcoleptic coma?
-sat on by fans wanting autographs?
-last minute media interview?
-took a wrong turn off the interstate; Mexican customs impounded the clubs?
-arrested for drunk and disorderly, woke up in the cooler?

[Ginker]

The only problem with what Spidey said is Bubba specs.. He uses an insanly stiff shaft with 10 wraps under his one hand and 9 under the other.. Thats nuts. Perhaps they could have scrapped something together so he could atleast play..

[Indio]

Still, could be an interesting story about why the caddie didn't show.
-gorged at the buffet and went into a narcoleptic coma?
-sat on by fans wanting autographs?
-last minute media interview?
-took a wrong turn off the interstate; Mexican customs impounded the clubs?
-arrested for drunk and disorderly, woke up in the cooler?

Or went out with John D the night before!

["Richard"]

The only problem with what Spidey said is Bubba specs.. He uses an insanly stiff shaft with 10 wraps under his one hand and 9 under the other.. Thats nuts. Perhaps they could have scrapped something together so he could atleast play..

what does that mean?? wraps?

[fundonny]

You take pita bread, put your ingredients in, then 'wrap' the pita around. Mmmmm mmmmm good!

[jvincent]

what does that mean?? wraps?

It's the number of layers of masking tape on the shaft before the grip is put on.

["Richard"]

what is the purpose of it? Do I need any?? maybe I should call golftown tomorrow... ahven't called few a few days! haha

[jvincent]

You build up the grip if you want the grip to be thicker than normal.

If you have big hands you would need to do that or some people like a bigger grip because it feels more comfortable.

["Richard"]

If I was baba watson I would thank my caddie for not showing up so he could get a nice little break. Missed the cut the last 3 out of 4 times times... not a big deal. If it was phil on the other hand... I would sue my caddie

[KickerOfElves]

Phil doesn't have to worry about retaining his tour card next year. If Bubba doesn't pick it up he could either be back in Q-school next year...or be the longest guy on the Nationwide again.

["Richard"]

how does q school work? top 125 money or world rank get cards and that's it?

[sensfan63]

Every tour venue has an equipment trailer where the pros can take any clubs they want. There are sure to be clubs that roughly match any pros specs, close enough to use for a round.

There are also extra caddies at all tour venues. Since there are always 8 alternates, there are at least 8 alternate caddies. There is always a way to get a caddy. There are dozens of players each week that aren't playing. I can't see them refusing work.

Bubba was just a deer in the headlights. He'll learn.

Equipment trailers are pretty much gone by Thursday morning. All the players utilize their services on Monday-Wednesday to get their stuff just right (for that week) and then they're gone. I could see a few companies still being there but by and large it doesn't happen. Maybe at the majors.

[KickerOfElves]

how does q school work? top 125 money or world rank get cards and that's it?

Top 125, past winners (get X number of years, major winners get more), top 30 or so at Q-school, top 25 or so at Nationwide. Two time winners at NW get their card (three wins gets Battlefield Promotion, a la Jason Gore). Those on Major Medical keep their cards...

That's all I can remember off the top of my head, anyone have a definitive list?