Two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson might look a little different to casual golf fans who don't watch the sport most weeks of year. Notably, Watson has clearly lost some weight.
How much? Watson estimates, according to the ESPN Thursday telecast of the 2017 Masters, that he's lost in the range of 15-20 lbs. It looks good on his 6-foot, 3-inch frame, now around 175 pounds.
Watson has lost the weight, in large part, by cutting out sugar from his diet and trying to introduce healthier foods for meals, including more seafood.
"Actually, I’m eating small meals more times," Watson said to Golfweek at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. "I threw in fish for the first time, a lot of chicken. Normally I don’t like eating on the golf course, but we made these little protein balls. No chips. I haven’t had a chip probably in three or four months. So it’s just things like that. The stuff everybody loves? I just cut it out. So I’m basically just bitter at the world.”
The weight loss may have had some effect on his game. Watson, who turns 39 in November, is averaging 4 yards fewer off the tee so far in 2016-17 compared to 2015-16 on the PGA Tour. Watson is also using a new golf ball in 2017, with a much-publicized and often criticized decision to stop playing Titleist's Pro V1X for Korean golf ball maker Volvik, often playing a pink ball.
However, Watson's not so worried about the lull in results, much of which has to do more with putting than anything else. He's working on being a better man, and that includes being a healthier one.
