Bubba Watson, the iconic lefty and two-time Masters champ, has found himself feeling right at home at this year’s BNI Indonesian Masters.
The local warmth has left him “blessed with open arms” in Jakarta, making his first visit to Indonesia all the more special as he chases his first title in six years.
Watson, turning 46 soon, is participating in the seventh tournament on The International Series—the Asian Tour’s roster of 10 high-stakes events.
And although the challenge of unfamiliar greens and tight fairways contrasts with the wide-open courses of America, he’s buoyed by the hospitality.
Reflecting on his experience, Watson said, “Any time you travel to a new place, you don’t know what to expect… They love us so much, treat us so kindly. I am just amazed by the smiles, the energy, the care and dedication to make this feel special here.”
While Watson’s long professional journey has brought him to the Asian Tour numerous times, with two runner-up finishes in past tournaments, he acknowledges the unique golfing challenges here.
“I looked at the [winning] number last year, 24 under. I was like ‘I am not sure I can get to 24 under’.
“Golfing in Asia the greens are a little smaller, the fairways are smaller, they are tighter. It is a different kind of golf to what we are used to”. he shared, “we have bigger golf courses in America. You can hit driver in a lot of places.
In Asia you have some tricky holes. That’s not the way I grew up playing. I hit driver everywhere. In Asia the golf course always beats me.”
As captain of RangeGoats GC in the LIV Golf League, Watson also revealed a personal goal: involving his kids in his international journey. He’s planning to homeschool them, allowing them to travel with him to “see the world.”
“I want my kids to be able to experience what I have experienced,” he said, emphasising the value of global exposure.
And when quizzed on his go-to Indonesian dish, Watson humorously declared his love for the universal favourite, “French fries.”
For a deeper dive into The International Series, visit internationalseries.com.
