Bubba Watson's mom chewed him out over boorish behavior
After winning his second Masters title in April, Bubba Watson's season has been all downhill. He's taken his lumps in the media for how he's behaved on the golf course, often exhibiting a lousy attitude that's rightfully earned him bad press.
And while Watson said Wednesday at the WGC-HSBC Champions that he needs that challenge from the media, the two-time major winner knew it was time to clean up his act when his mom, Molly, got in his face.
“She tells me that I’m not being good,” he said. “She tells me I should smile more and not be so angry. Pretty much what the media says. I guess she could write for the media, too.”
Watson's low point of the year was at the PGA Championship in Kentucky, when he refused to take part in a casual, revived long-drive contest. He then audibly cursed during the tournament, complained of rainy conditions and, the worst of all, had his caddie Ted Scott tee the ball up for him in a downpour so he wouldn't get wet.
"When I make mistakes, when your friends call you out, when the media calls you out, when my wife calls me out, when my mom calls me out, when those people call you out and tell you you’re doing something wrong, it’s not to punish you," Watson said. "It’s not to get on you. It’s to help you improve later in life."
The question as it relates to Watson is if later starts now.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.