Bubba Watson Faces Backlash Over LIV Golf Schedule, Pay Comments

Bubba Watson, a two-time Masters champion and LIV Golf player, has highlighted the personal benefits of joining LIV Golf, including more family time and a less grueling schedule compared to the PGA Tour, though he noted that LIV's 14-week schedule requires playing every event, unlike the PGA Tour's 40 events where players can pick their best fits. Watson, captain and owner of the LIV team RangeGoats, acknowledged his team's poor performance but enjoys traveling with his family to international tournaments. He supports LIV Golf's new relegation policy requiring players to maintain performance standards to retain their spots, aligning with global golf tours and aiming to improve LIV's chances of gaining Official World Golf Ranking points, which it has yet to achieve. Despite LIV Golf's efforts to present itself as an entertaining alternative, Watson's comments about reduced work intensity and increased pay have drawn criticism from fans who view the league as less competitive and a step down from traditional professional golf. Watson remains optimistic about LIV Golf's future, citing strong performances in major championships by LIV players as a positive sign for the league's growth and acceptance. Overall, Watson portrays LIV Golf as a family-friendly and evolving platform that challenges traditional tour structures while facing skepticism from golf fans.