Bubba's behavior, DISSAPOINTING

[sman]

Hello golfwrx community. As you can see I don't post much, if any, but I saw something this week at the Memorial Tournament that has caused me to voice my opinions. I was at the Pro-Am day at the Memorial Tournament here in Dublin, Ohio on Wednesday. It was a great day and all the players were VERY accomodating. I saw an unusual amount of elementary school children at the tournament, which was great, and seeing how the players interacted with them was very pleasing (especially Gary Woodland, he is now one of my new favorite players on the tour, GREAT GUY).

 

Anyways, back to the point (sorry I'm rambling), I saw something that I haven't been able to get out of my head and quite frankly bothers me a bit. A little girl, probably 7-8 years old, asked for Bubba Watson's autograph in between holes 1 and 2 (so he was not playing a hole and it was during a PRO AM) and he turned to the girl and said, " Not today, not the way I am playing." I looked back to see the girl holding her father with tears in her eyes. When he f=got to the tee box he took his usual waggles, stood over the ball and then stepped away. He then looked to his right and stared down a spectator who took a picture on silent. I was standing right there and I can tell you a pinecone falling from a tree made more sound. Bubba's stare made the entire gallery uncomfortable and confused. It's like we threw something during his swing or called his mother a horrible name. These actions angers me to the point I am spilling out my feelings to all of you.

 

In addition, during Fridays televised coverage I saw him turn to the crowd after sinking a 1-FOOT putt and said, " did you get enough pictures. I heard you take 2 pictures while I was standing over the ball. Keep Quiet." Jack Nicklaus even commented on his actions saying he wished players would be more appreciative of the gallery and the players should stay focused on golf. Now I would understand his frustration if it were a Sunday and he was standing over a 10 foot putt to win, but this literally was a 1-foot putt (NO MORE) and he flipped out.

 

i have officially lost all respect for Bubba, which is a shame because I do like watching him play, but after seeing first hand how he behaves and treats fans when cameras are/aren't on him is inexcusable.

[zipit]

Yeah that sounds like him...

[Holy Moses]

I saw him verbally say something to two people in the gallery between 16 and 18 today. Bubba is easily distracted - even moreso this tournament - and he is letting everyone know about it. The TV guys even made mention of it. Yep he's different. Get the word out: don't take any pictures 5 seconds before and 2 seconds after Bubba hits a shot. Do players usually sign autographs between holes of a pro-am?

[Anwell]

Gary Woodland is awesome, followed him around 2 years ago at Barclay's, he was very nice to the crowd and made small talks to little kids in the gallery. Not to mention he was killing the ball lol.

[bladehunter]

wow....im not sure how anyone could be mean to a child....the rest maybe, on a bad day, but he could have signed the autograph quicker than It took him to smart off those remarks.. IF there were bunch of other kids nearby and it was possible that he would be mobbed then maybe you say , "cant stop now, but ill sign for everyone after if you come to such and such a place" classy ways to do anything if you try...that being said nobodys perfect and Bubba certainly wears his feeling on his sleeve, but you have to take special care when talking to kids if your a star as he is...they see you as super human, and its horrible to have that idol dismiss you as a bother...That could turn the girl off golf all together....lets hope not

[TN22]

Sounds like Bubba. Friggin chump.

[RJRJRJ]

Come on, the guy walks by thousands of kids every single tournament. There is a 100% guarantee a lot of them will go home disappointed no matter how hard he tries to be nice.

[GoLow3340]

I was there a couple years ago when Phil threw a fit about people having their phones out and taking photos. Must be an angry lefty thing.

[CowtownTexas]

Watched Dustin Johnson stop three different times to sign items for kids. This was on the way back to the 17th hole at Colonial last week after a rain delay on Saturday.

Some guys get it, some guys don't.

[tatertot]

Without those kids (and their parents money) Bubba doesn't own the general lee ... Doesn't ride a hovercraft ... And is probably collecting range balls at a muni somewhere. Sometimes he (and all of us) need to be reminded of those sorts of things.

[sman]

EVERYONE signs autographs on PRO-AM days. They are so well prepared I even see some players with different colored sharpies.

Gary Woodland took 5-6 minutes to stop and sign probably 30 autographs for a group of elementary students. He asked them how they were doing, who is their favorite sports team (99% said Buckeyes and he even played along), who their favorite golfer was. He even saw someone trying to take a picture of him and guess what he did, he DIDNT stop and yell, he said hold on a sec, finished signing and walked over and took several pictures with fans. That is a class guy.

To clarify, the little girl was the only one to ask for an autograph. She had the cutest little voice the was cracking a bit because she was probably a little nervous. Bubba looked straight at her at said the comment. I don't care how bad a day you are having you don't behave like that on a golf course. What makes it worse is it was to a child. As a father myself if my son asked for an autograph and was talked to that way by a player I don't know how I would react. CLASSLESS, NO EXCUSES.

[scooterush]

[quote name='sman' timestamp='1401503041' post='9400295']
Hello golfwrx community. As you can see I don't post much, if any, but I saw something this week at the Memorial Tournament that has caused me to voice my opinions. I was at the Pro-Am day at the Memorial Tournament here in Dublin, Ohio on Wednesday. It was a great day and all the players were VERY accomodating. I saw an unusual amount of elementary school children at the tournament, which was great, and seeing how the players interacted with them was very pleasing (especially Gary Woodland, he is now one of my new favorite players on the tour, GREAT GUY).

Anyways, back to the point (sorry I'm rambling), I saw something that I haven't been able to get out of my head and quite frankly bothers me a bit. A little girl, probably 7-8 years old, asked for Bubba Watson's autograph in between holes 1 and 2 (so he was not playing a hole and it was during a PRO AM) and he turned to the girl and said, " Not today, not the way I am playing." I looked back to see the girl holding her father with tears in her eyes. When he f=got to the tee box he took his usual waggles, stood over the ball and then stepped away. He then looked to his right and stared down a spectator who took a picture on silent. I was standing right there and I can tell you a pinecone falling from a tree made more sound. Bubba's stare made the entire gallery uncomfortable and confused. It's like we threw something during his swing or called his mother a horrible name. These actions angers me to the point I am spilling out my feelings to all of you.

In addition, during Fridays televised coverage I saw him turn to the crowd after sinking a 1-FOOT putt and said, " did you get enough pictures. I heard you take 2 pictures while I was standing over the ball. Keep Quiet." Jack Nicklaus even commented on his actions saying he wished players would be more appreciative of the gallery and the players should stay focused on golf. Now I would understand his frustration if it were a Sunday and he was standing over a 10 foot putt to win, but this literally was a 1-foot putt (NO MORE) and he flipped out.

i have officially lost all respect for Bubba, which is a shame because I do like watching him play, but after seeing first hand how he behaves and treats fans when cameras are/aren't on him is inexcusable.
[/quote]
sman--- i have been jumped on in the forums for posts i have made about bubba in the past... i work for CBS sports and have herd first hand stories about bubbas antics... in my opinion ... bubba is a big prima donna dweeb that acts immature and loves to tell people how much he is sooooo different and does things his way.... stuff it bubba.. its transparent ... if it wasn't for golf he would be some disgruntled counter guy in a department store.... thats my opinion..

[station2station]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1401503786' post='9400377']
Come on, the guy walks by thousands of kids every single tournament. There is a 100% guarantee a lot of them will go home disappointed no matter how hard he tries to be nice.
[/quote]

It's a ProAm. You sign EVERY time you get a chance.

...never forget who butters your bread.

[hjg940]

I mean everyone has their days, he's also the guy who autographed 5-8 golf balls and threw them into the crowd Sunday after his round at the us open

[CowtownTexas]

To be fair, I witnessed the tournaments founder do the same thing on his way to the parking lot about 30 years ago. Same reaction from the kid who asked. Always stuck with me because I was a kid at the time and just hadn't had time to ask myself.

Everybody has a bad day sometimes.

[sman]

[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1401503786' post='9400377']
Come on, the guy walks by thousands of kids every single tournament. There is a 100% guarantee a lot of them will go home disappointed no matter how hard he tries to be nice.
[/quote]

I know it is impossible for players to sign every item put in front of them, even though they TRY to. HOWEVER, Bubba didn't run out of time, or lose track of items put in front of him to sign, ONE ONE ONE ONE child asked for an autograph and he said tough s***.

[Noke]

More power to him. He is under no obligation to behave in any way on or off the golf course.

[Zach Heusser]

[quote name='huntergrasso' timestamp='1401504823' post='9400511']
I mean everyone has their days, he's also the guy who autographed 5-8 golf balls and threw them into the crowd Sunday after his round at the us open
[/quote]
That's cool, but it's easy to be nice when the camera is on.....

[MadGolfer76]

Headcases have a way of self-destructing. All we need do is wait...

[Bingo1976]

[quote name='GoLow3340' timestamp='1401503797' post='9400379']
I was there a couple years ago when Phil threw a fit about people having their phones out and taking photos. Must be an angry lefty thing.
[/quote]

Damn socialists...

[MadGolfer76]

[quote name='nohny noke' timestamp='1401505144' post='9400545']
More power to him. He is under no obligation to behave in any way on or off the golf course.
[/quote]

So you are fine with upset kids? That is more a reflection on you than on Bubba.

[Hawkeye77]

Heaven forbid someone treats Caleb badly. Bubba would likely have an alternating tirade and tear filled press conference.

The old stories about his behavior are well known. I guess I just see all the emotional and other stuff that some think demonstrates how real he is, and how he is really a good guy, as more a reflection of his belief that it is all about him.

[spires1020]

Unfortunately, I doubt he's the only tour player like this. For Bubba, I expect this type of inconsiderate behavior and hopefully someday he will get better.

[station2station]

[color=#282828]
PING keeps Miguel Angel Jimenez on contract to offset the burden of having Bubba onboard. [/color]

[monkeynaut]

Could golfwrx whine more?

[Prof3ssor]

[quote name='sman' timestamp='1401505107' post='9400537']
[quote name='RJRJRJ' timestamp='1401503786' post='9400377']
Come on, the guy walks by thousands of kids every single tournament. There is a 100% guarantee a lot of them will go home disappointed no matter how hard he tries to be nice.
[/quote]

I know it is impossible for players to sign every item put in front of them, even though they TRY to. HOWEVER, Bubba didn't run out of time, or lose track of items put in front of him to sign, ONE ONE ONE ONE child asked for an autograph and he said tough s***.
[/quote]

If you search around you will find several topics on Bubba being a dic* and I could not agree with you more. However, just be prepared sman as I know several members that will tell you how you are wrong and your opinion is inaccurate as Bubba is an amazing individual.

[PZero]

I went to the practice rounds at the Memorial this week. I get there early, watch them on the range, get autographs, and interact with the players I know that are approachable. On Tuesday, I got there and noticed Bubba out on the 10th tee early, just as the gates were opening. There was probably 5 people there and Bubba refused to sign any autographs for anyone, but did say he would sign after he played. When his round was over he did sign quite a few autographs for people, but he complained the entire time about how everyone was just going to sell it. After signing something he would say how much they would be able to get for it on eBay. He also refuses to sign the middle of Masters flags and intentionally will sign his autograph on the darkest area of an item so you can't really see his signature.

98% of the players are unbelievably great with the fans. They stop and sign autographs for anyone that asks for it and they will stop and take pictures as well. I heard the term "selfie" more than I wanted to this week. I followed Rory for about 8 holes and he signed for just about everyone and took countless pictures with people.

[Medic]

This is true "Bubba Golf".

Would be nice if one of the reporters would ask him about the incident during a post-round interview. But won't happen. It is about sales and advertising. It is about building up a false identity and then marketing it.

As Mad said, people like this who have limited talent coupled with a lack of emotional control will implode eventually. Only a matter of time.

[Noke]

[quote name='MadGolfer76' timestamp='1401505456' post='9400581'][quote name='nohny noke' timestamp='1401505144' post='9400545']
More power to him. He is under no obligation to behave in any way on or off the golf course.
[/quote]

So you are fine with upset kids? That is more a reflection on you than on Bubba.[/quote]

Yep, as a stay-at-home dad I have no problem with crying kids. What Bubba allegedly said doesn't seem too outrageous to me.

[sman]

Like I said before, I really enjoyed watching Bubba play. The scene of him holding his son and giving everyone high-5's after he won the Masters was emotional to say the least. However, the way we act in victory is not as important is how we act in defeat, that is the measure of a true champion on and off the course, and is what made Jack Nicklaus the best professional athlete in history (in my eyes, but thats another debate).