2026 Player Preview: Bubba Watson

The 2026 LIV Golf season starts next February under the lights in Riyadh, and in the next few months, we’ll take a detailed look at each player competing next season. Next up is two-time Masters winner and RangeGoats GC Captain Bubba Watson.

LOOKING AHEAD

After the best season of his LIV Golf career in 2025, Bubba Watson will look to contend for his first league individual win in 2026. The RangeGoats GC captain displayed he still has what it takes to compete with LIV Golf’s elite and will be eager to take on the challenge. Watson will also be focused on improving his RangeGoats GC team, as he was the only player donning the pink and black to finish better than 36th in the individual standings. The RangeGoats only posted one podium finish, which won’t cut it for a competitor like Watson.

After his impressive performance at The Masters, Watson will look to get in the mix at Augusta National as he has a lifetime exemption as a past champion.

LOOKING BACK

At 46 years old, Watson staged an incredible bounce-back season. After limping to 53rd in the 2024 individual standings while still working his way into form after knee surgery in 2022, the two-time Masters champion flipped the script in 2025. Watson delivered four top-10 finishes, highlighted by a runner-up effort at LIV Golf UK — the best result of his LIV Golf tenure — and a T4 in Virginia. But it was his Sunday charge at JCB Country Club that stole the show: starting on the back nine, Watson blazed through six holes in 8-under, carding four birdies and two eagles in a display of vintage "Bubba" imagination. The resurgence wasn’t confined to LIV Golf. In April, Watson rolled back the years at Augusta National, posting a T14 finish, which was his strongest major result since contending at The Masters in 2019.

WHAT THE STATS SAY

Strengths: Watson had a great year in 2025 both on and around the greens. He ranked 22nd in Strokes Gained: Around the Green (+0.14) and was above league average in scrambling (59%). Watson had one of the best putting seasons of his career, which he attributed in part to a new mallet-style putter. He ranked 8th in Strokes Gained: Putting (+0.39).

Said Watson: “We've always joked, (caddie) Ted Scott, when he was with me for 15 years, we always joked (that) if I could hit it about six inches further, I'd win more tournaments. That's what we tried to do. We tried to get a heavier hammer, as we call it, so the ball rolls a little bit further. It's easier to get the distance. It's been working so far.”

Watson also feasted on par 5s, playing them to a cumulative 60-under, good for 4th in the league. He led the league in eagles made (12).

Weaknesses: Watson ranked 38th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, largely due to his lack of driving distance as he hit 62% of his fairways (T10). The veteran was extremely reliant on his short game and will need to improve his approach play if he’s to put together another strong season. He ranked 35th in long approach (225+), 32nd in medium approach (150-225) and 27th in short approach (150 and in).

CAREER RESULTS

LIV GOLF REGULAR SEASON

TOTAL TROPHIES WON (1)

LIV GOLF CAREER SCORING

Stroke Average Total: 70.23
Round 1 Average: 70.38
Round 2 Average: 69.92
Round 3 Average: 70.38

Lowest Round: 63

BOTTOM LINE

Watson certainly has a few good seasons of highly competitive golf remaining and will be a contender to win on one of LIV Golf’s shorter tracks next season. He may look to shake up the roster to improve the team after a lackluster 2025. One of Watson’s most impressive qualities has been his leadership both for the RangeGoats and as a spokesman for the league. The two-time Masters champion will continue to have a major impact both on and off the golf course in 2026 and beyond.