LOS ANGELES – The swing has always come easily to Bubba Watson.
He hits a golf ball with so much natural ability combined with such an unorthodox style that it piqued the curiosity of Tiger Woods when Watson first got on the PGA Tour.
His entourage has never included a swing coach. It's all Bubba.
"Some of the shots he hits are so creative. He really has his style of golf under control," Adam Scott said. "I don't think you can teach it. He's just such a natural talent. Watching a guy hit 5-iron to four different greens on the range about 85 yards, 120, 170 and 240 is pretty fun to watch."
Scott didn't have to watch him Sunday, which was just as well because it might not have been all that fun for guys trying to beat him at the Northern Trust Open. Watson took the lead for the last time by swinging so hard that he nearly came out of his shoes on the par-5 17th. The ball traveled 334 yards up the hill, setting up a 2-iron that went 256 yards and led to a two-putt birdie. He wound up winning by one shot over Scott and Jason Kokrak.
He called it "Bubba Golf" when he won the first of his two Masters titles in 2012. People know what that is when they see it. It's just hard to describe.
"I'm not trying to do anything. I don't work on anything," Watson said. "I just play golf. I see a shot and try to hit it. I'm scared to death on most of them, but I try to hit it anyway."
He doesn't like big crowds, but he couldn't leave Riviera fast enough Saturday night so he could get to the Clippers-Warriors game and be part of the celebrity scene. He says he doesn't like a lot of attention, but he frequently posts videos of wild stunts and trick shots.
