One day after Augusta National announced it was admitting its first two women members, the news was still buzzing among PGA Tour players during the Barclays Championship practice round Tuesday.
Bubba Watson said when he heard the news that two women were going to be joining, his wife said jokingly, “Do you think it’ll be me?’’
Phil Mickelson said he has played golf with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, one of the new members, calling her “one of my favorite people I’ve ever been around.”
“She’s so intelligent and so fun to ask questions to and she loves the game of golf, plays with a passion,’’ Mickelson said. “She’s a great asset and great member to any club. I’m hoping we have a chance to play a few rounds with her. I haven’t checked with her yet, but I’m hoping to sneak in a few practice rounds with her before the Masters next year. That would really be an honor.’’
Keegan Bradley called the addition of women members at Augusta “great for the game of golf.’’
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Nets point guard Deron Williams will play in Wednesday’s pro-am with Watson and might even bring his Olympic gold medal with him.
Watson is staying this week in a house on Long Island with some “Wounded Warrior’’ soldiers.
“They’re in awe of me, but I’m in awe of them,” the Masters champ said. “I’m learning from them about how much they fought for our freedom, not knowing who we are or anything about us. They’re out there taking bullets and dodging bullets for us to give us freedom to do what we do.
“It’s an honor for me to stay with them and hopefully cheering them up a little bit when they get down.’’
Dustin Johnson, who won The Barclays at Plainfield Country Club last year in the hurricane-shortened tournament, said he believes Bethpage favors the big hitters.
“Whoever is going to drive it the straightest and the furthest is going to win,’’ he said. “The rough is very penal.’’
Johnson and Rickie Fowler took Mickelson and Bradley for a few fun dollars in a practice-round match Tuesday, which was closed out when Fowler drained a birdie putt on 17.
“It’s a great warmup for the tournament,’’ Fowler said of the practice-round matches Mickelson usually sets up. “It gets you in a competitive mentality. Usually it’s nothing too serious. You have a couple putts here and there that really mean something.
“Dustin and I played nicely today. It’s not about beating up on the other guys, though that is nice because there are bragging rights involved. But it gets you ready for teeing off on Thursday. It’s a great tune-up to get ready for this week and the playoffs.’’
Spencer Levin withdrew from the tournament because of the death of his brother.