Tuesday 5 August 2014 23:59, UK
Bubba Watson insists he is not in the mood for long-driving contests at the US PGA Championship, whether in practice or with playing partner Rory McIlroy on the first two days at Valhalla.
The two-time Masters champion, who collected his second green jacket four months ago at Augusta National, decided against taking part in a long-drive contest worked into practice rounds at the par-five 10th hole on Tuesday, saying tournament preparation took top priority.
New world No 1 McIlroy led the driving statistics last week in winning the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Akron, but Watson is not interested in talking about a ball-smashing contest in the grouping of major champions – US Open champion Martin Kaymer is also in the three-ball - when he could contend for a major title.
"When we get here to the tournament Thursday, it's about playing a game," Watson said. "He doesn't care if he outdrives me. I don't care if I outdrive him. We're trying to score.
"If I outdrive him every hole and he beats me, he doesn't care. If he outdrives me every hole and I beat him, it doesn't matter. It's a big field so we are not looking at each other."
Watson opted to hit a three-iron off the 10th tee rather than a driver to protest at the insertion of the long-drive contest into the round, even if it was meant as a fun distraction for players.
"I want to practice the game of golf. I want to learn this golf course," he said.
"I haven't seen the 10th hole. I don't see that we should have a competition like that while we're playing a practice round and learning the golf course, trying to win a great championship.
"There's no reason to make something up in the middle of the practice round like that. This is just right there in the middle of your practice round when you're trying to see the course. Just kind of weird to me.
"But I hit my 3-iron perfect, though, right down the middle. Longest 3-iron of the day. I won that competition. Take that."
Watson says he is not surprised that the relatively diminutive McIlroy can hit the ball such a long way – he averaged a PGA season-best 334 yards off the tee last week.
"It doesn't surprise me at all. His technique is obviously pretty good," Watson said.
"He's number one in the world. He's still young. But no, I don't really think that it's the size. I think his technique is so good that obviously he can move the ball out there.
"It doesn't surprise me how tall somebody is if they can hit it pretty good. He's pretty strong, too. He's pretty fit."
You can watch the US PGA Championship live on Sky Sports 4 from 6pm on Thursday.
