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Bubba Watson thrilled to represent U.S. in Olympic golf

Bubba Watson has two Masters green jackets, enough trophies from PGA Tour wins to fill a large display, along with his international team competition triumphs.

Bubba Watson is pumped to be playing on the first U.S. Olympic men's golf team in 112 years. (Photo: News Journal file photo)

Bubba Watson has two Masters green jackets, enough trophies from PGA Tour wins to fill a large display, along with his international team competition triumphs.

Now, there is a new cherished achievement.

Watson is going to the Olympics. He has made the USA team in the first Olympic Games golf tournament in 112 years.

"No matter what I finish, I don't care if I finish dead last," said Watson, a Milton High graduate, co-owner of the Blue Wahoos and new Pensacola resident, speaking at a press conference last week at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, where he finished tied for 14th.

"At the end of the week or at the end of my career I get to say I played in the Olympics, and I'd be one up on Jack Nicklaus."

With this week's Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia cancelled due to the horrific flooding in that area, the PGA Tour is on an unscheduled break. That meant Sunday's finale of the Bridgestone Invitational officially sealed the Official World Golf Rankings that will determine the Olympic field.

Bubba Watson, shown here visiting with elementary school children in Milton, following his second Masters win, is thrilled to be playing for USA team in the first Olympic Games golf tournament in 112 years. (Photo: Tony Giberson/tgiberson@pnj.com)

Jordan Spieth (No. 2 ranked), Dustin Johnson (No. 3), Watson (6th) and Rickie Fowler (7th) all qualify for the U.S. as Top 15 world ranked players. All players in top 15 are automatic qualifiers.

Spieth and Fowler are both hedging on whether to play, citing concerns about Rio. So far 11 players who were qualified under any standard to play in the Olympics, including world No. 1 Jason Day (Australia) and Ireland's Rory McIlroy, have announced they are not going to Rio.

If Spieth or Fowler back out, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar would qualify as players inside the Top 15.

No other nation has this many players ranked in the Top 15. Remember when people wondered about American golf strength without Tiger Woods?

Each participating country is guaranteed to have two players. The men's Olympic tournament is Aug. 11-14 in Rio.

There will be 60 players for the men's and women's Olympic tournament being staged at the new Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janiero. Unlike many venues in Rio, this course is ready to go.

It was open for play in March and will be a par-71 layout for the tournament. It will be preserved as a public golf course and hopeful golf tourist destination after the Olympics.

"I've never dreamed about the Olympics,” said Watson, 37, a Milton High graduate and now Pensacola resident, speaking on the subject during last wee. “I've dreamed about Olympics in basketball, but I wasn't good enough in basketball, so that never worked out.

“You know, playing the Ryder Cup, and again, I don't know what the Olympic feeling is going to be when I get there, but I'm pretty sure I can guess."

The confirmation of Watson's Olympic dream occurs after a big week. His new business venture, Bubba's Sweet Spot on Palafox Street opened last Friday. Watson may try and get back in town to see his business before heading back out to compete.

When golf was reinstated for the Olympics more than seven years ago, Tiger Woods was the No. 1 star. His stature helped push golf as an Olympic sport.

But with fears of the Zika virus, numerous other woes in Rio, along with reluctance of golf's top men to play in a tournament with logistical challenges, there have been mass withdrawals that threaten the future of Olympic golf.

On the women's side, only one top 15-ranked player has backed out. For the U.S., Lexi Thompson and Stacy Lewis are both qualified and committed to playing, but they may be the only two U.S. players qualified.

The Olympic tournament will not be a team competition. Instead, it's a 72 hole stroke play tournament just like any tour event. The top three finishers will reach the medal podium.

That format has also contributed to reluctance among many top men's players. They will be playing in the British Open next week, then the PGA Championship has been moved up to July 28-31 to accommodate the Olympics.

In Watson's case, he's also playing in the Travelers Championship, where he is a two-time champion, the week before the Olympics.

His desire to play in the Olympics is also fueled by the fact his wife, Angie, was a formerly a star Canadian player on the University of Georgia women's basketball team, but didn't get the chance to compete in the Olympics. He said going to Rio is also a tribute to his late-father, Gerry Watson, who served as a Green Beret in Vietnam.

"My dad was in the military, got drafted for Vietnam,” Watson said. “I support the military every way I can. I have great friends that are pilots in the military. The Blue Angels are from Pensacola that lost a great man to a crash, a month or so ago.

“The military lets me hit a white ball and chase it and hit a white ball again. Depending on who your sponsor is, it might be a yellow ball.

"So for me, it's my one chance to be a part of the United States and have the flag around me and have me be somewhat associated with the United States flag, so it's my one chance to show support.”

USA Men's Olympic Golf Team

(Pending decisions to play)

1) Jordan Speith

2) Dustin Johnson

3) Bubba Watson

4) Rickie Fowler

Official World Golf Rankings Top 10

1) Jason Day, Australia (skipping Olympics)

2) Jordan Spieth, USA

3) Dustin Johnson, USA

4) Rory McIlroy, Ireland (skipping Olympics)

5) Henrik Stenson, Sweden

6) Bubba Watson, USA

7) Rickie Fowler, USA

8) Adam Scott, Australia (skipping Olympics)

9) Danny Willett, Great Britain

10) Justin Rose, Great Britain (skipping Olympics).

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