Bubba Watson has conceded that his 2024 LIV Golf season merited "probably an F" after he ended up a disappointing five places from the bottom of the leaderboard. The seasoned pro, who made his initial mark on the PGA Tour as a rookie in 2006 and bagged two major titles at the Masters tournaments of 2012 and 2014, joined the LIV outfit in July 2022.
His tenure with the controversial tour, however, has not been as successful as anticipated. After being declared a non-playing captain of the RangeGoats due to a knee injury requiring surgery, the Floridian golfer ranked a subpar 36th for the 2023 season. His performance in 2024 failed to show any improvement, participating in 14 events, with his most noteworthy finish being T15 in Las Vegas - dropping to a lowly 53rd spot in the standings.
Speaking to Golf By Tour Miss, Watson provided insights into his latest campaign: "It was a season that was tough for me as it was more of a learning experience in learning about being a team captain and while captaincy really doesn't mean much but being an owner when you're trying to make moves and talk to sponsors and also play golf and practice as they are the things you have to learn to deal with.
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"So, I'm still learning with having to deal with that. Some guys want to be hands-on on and I also want to be hands-on. I want to be a part of everything going on as I want to help group the LIV Tour. Going forward I would back away as much as I could and leave this new role I have to my GM or someone.", reports the Irish Star.
Watson also didn't hold back in his admiration for LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, commending him for his contributions to the sport. He explained: "Greg brought LIV Golf to the world and forget what he did that first day because as soon as we studied it and learnt what it was all about, as that's when the sports world fell in love with it.
"When I said the world, I meant the United States as the rest of the world had fallen in love with it from the outset. Greg Norman has accomplished above and beyond what anyone ever expected of it and without Greg Norman and his connections LIV Golf would not be in the strong position it is at present."
Amidst these developments, there are whispers that the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) is considering the appointment of Philadelphia 76ers president Scott O'Neil to replace Norman. Despite Norman's pivotal role in elevating LIV Golf, reports suggest he is currently being distanced from ongoing discussions between LIV and PGA officials.
Norman himself has previously made it clear that his dedication to LIV Golf is unwavering, with a contract in place until August 2025. His involvement with the league has been steadfast since 2021.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated, the CEO said: "My commitment to LIV has been unquestioned and my commitment into the future is also unquestioned. Time will tell. Will there be a change in my role? My position and my role is to deliver 2025 and get our schedule done and all the things we need to do. I can only speak on LIV's behalf and we're moving forward irrespective [of a deal]. Would it make things easier? Yes, it would. Whether it's a year or now."
