Tranlate this title Watson: «I’d love to be oldest Masters champ» in spanish

This year, the Spanish Open features Bubba Watson (Baghdad, Florida; age 47), a two-time Masters champion (2012 and 2014). Bubba is the surprise addition to a stellar lineup of international players, and his presence adds prestige to the tournament. He was a top star just over a decade ago, reaching world number two. He later joined LIV and is currently ranked 415th, though he began an interesting comeback at Valderrama, where he finished ninth in the LIV Golf Andalucía tournament.

Bubba Watson, results

He has arrived in Madrid for the first time and is thoroughly enjoying the city alongside his wife. «Earlier this year, when we were at Valderrama, we saw the city and the beach. My kids were there; they love being near the water. Then we went to the Rock of Gibraltar; we did some sightseeing in the area and went up there. And now, my wife has been with me these last few days, so we’ve been exploring Madrid. We try to sightsee, experience the culture, and learn new things. It’s been really nice coming to Spain and seeing such beautiful places,» Watson tells MARCA.

The golfer would like to visit the Bernabéu on Saturday to watch the match between Real Madrid and Villarreal (9:00 PM), and in this regard, he is sending out an SOS: «I’m trying to get tickets to go see it. I’ve never been to a match of… well, we call it ‘soccer.’ I’ve never been to a soccer match, so it would be fun to see one.»

«With the LIV season over, I need a place to play, and the DP World Tour has allowed me to participate in a couple of tournaments.»

The iconic American player’s future does not lie with LIV Golf right now, and he has begun looking for opportunities elsewhere. “Why did I come to this tournament? Well, first of all, because I received an invitation, but I have to say that playing here is an honor and a privilege. You know, with the LIV situation, I need a place to play, and the DP World Tour has allowed me to participate in a couple of tournaments. I’ve always wanted to play here. The course is a bit soft this year, but it’s beautiful. Madrid is a lovely city, so it’s a dream to come here and experience such a beautiful place,” he admits.

The legendary golfer’s results have improved in recent weeks, and he feels more competitive, as he confirms: “I think it’s simply a matter of playing smarter, staying focused, and sinking a few more putts. But my swing is exactly where I want it to be right now. I’m hitting my tee shots much better, which puts me in a good position to execute better shots into the green. Now it all comes down to sinking putts—something I’ve been doing quite well over the last few months.”

A few years ago, Watson spoke openly about the serious issues he was facing. He suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and anxiety problems, but until then, no one knew; at times, people even made jokes at his expense. This took a toll on his mental and physical health, and it showed in his performance as an athlete. He also suffered from social anxiety and felt uncomfortable around large crowds. Negative comments affected him deeply, to the point where he struggled to sleep or barely slept at all. He lost weight—dropping to 73 kg despite standing 1.90 meters tall—and even feared for his life. At times, he thought of his father, a former Green Beret who suffered from PTSD and passed away from cancer in 2010. On several occasions, Watson believed he was having a heart attack and had to be hospitalized. Watson on anxiety: «The simple act of voicing your problems helps you cope with them better.»

Watson emerged from that experience, though he doesn’t explain exactly how. «What I had to do was talk to people—talk to my wife and close friends, and share what I was going through with them. That’s why the first thing I’d tell anyone is to find someone they trust to talk to and open up about their problems. It’s not really so much about getting advice. The simple act of voicing your problems helps you cope with them better: instead of bottling everything up, you share it and let it out. In my case, talking to my wife and admitting what was wrong—or acknowledging my weaknesses in certain areas—freed me mentally and helped me overcome some of the issues I was facing,» he explains.

The winner of 12 PGA Tour events pauses to think when asked about the best thing golf has given him, ultimately limiting his answer to recent years: «At this stage of my life, my wife and I play a lot of golf together; it’s how we spend time with each other. Golf has brought us closer and taken us to many places around the world where we’ve been able to share time together. I believe our relationship grows stronger when we can spend time together, and golf has contributed to that bond because she loves the sport.»