Is Bubba Watson and Scottie Scheffler the oddest pair in this week’s New Orleans Zurich Classic?
On Thursday, Watson, 42, and Scheffler, 24, explained to reporters in Louisiana how they became partners in a team-based tournament.
“Bubba asked like eight or nine people and then they all said no, and he was waiting for me, and then I waited about four or five days, texting some people and no one answered. So, I said, “Shuffler said, without naming the players who had previously rejected Watson’s request.
Watson, who was up front and the center for the story, confirmed, “That’s too much.”
While Scheffler did not intentionally poke fun at Watson, how social media took it – including the PGA Tour Twitter account.
Watson later told the full story about how the partnership came to be.
“We’re doing a Bible study together – the young, up-and-coming guy who is a super genius – so I called him early. It might have been early January,” Watson said.
“I read that and he said, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to play it.” I said, ‘I didn’t say that. I asked, yes or no, do you want to play as my partner? ‘He waited a few days and when he came back, I felt, I think, Dallas. He said that he was meeting on a flight, and he said, ‘Yes.’
In a possible attempt to reduce the awkwardness, Scheffer praised Watson’s game and said he was “looking ahead” to the rest of the tournament.
“When they asked me if I wanted to be a partner, I thought we’d have a great time, I thought we’d have a lot of fun,” Scheffler said. “It’s so fun to watch him play golf, and I think for the alternate-shot (Friday) I think we’re going to make a good team because he’s able to hit those shots, which I’m probably going to do. I’m in. Put it in and I think I’ll be able to do it too.
In Thursday’s best ball format, Scheffler and Watson shot 8-under 64 – six birdies and an eagle.
While the Zurich Classic is a team-based event, it would be considered an official PGA Tour win it claims.
Scheffler is poised for his first win, while two-time Masters champion, Watson, is playing for his 13th PGA Tour win.
Watson previously played alongside JB Holmes (2017 and 2019) and Matt Kutcher (2018). Holmes is paired with Robert Garrigus this week.
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