LOUISVILLE, Ky. — All day during Tuesday’s PGA Championship practice round, the tournament conducted an unofficial long-drive contest off the 10th tee.
The contest was an instant hit with the fans, who piled around the 10th tee and watched players swing away, with their distance quickly posted on a scoreboard.
And, as much fun as the spectators had with the contest, the players embraced it, too, having fun with each other.
Well, most players embraced it.
Bubba Watson, who happens to be one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, leading in driving distance, was a killjoy to the entire program, declining to participate and even hitting 3-iron off the tee while admitting he plans to use driver on No. 10 during the tournament.
“I’m here to win a championship, I’m not here to goof around,” Watson said, trying to make a joke while explaining his curious decision not to have fun with the contest.
Watson actually contradicted himself when he said, “I want to practice the game of golf. I want to learn this golf course. I haven’t seen the 10th hole. I don’t see why we should have a competition like that while we’re playing a practice round and learning the golf course, trying to win a great championship.”
“There’s no reason to make something up in the middle of the practice round like that. That’s just me. Like it or not, that’s just who I am. That’s just what I think.”
But wouldn’t Watson be “practicing’’ and getting to know the hole by hitting driver, which he said he plans to use “every day” of the tournament?
“I was just trying to prove a point that nobody cared about,’’ Watson said. “If it’s going to be a contest, make it where you could participate and not participate. Calling your name on a Tuesday of a practice round, it just seems funny to me, just seems hokey to me, so I just didn’t.”
When someone mentioned the annual Par-3 Contest at the Masters, Watson said, “That’s something [where] you’re spending time with your family. The kids are out there. You’re signing autographs. You have the choice to participate or not to participate. And this is just right there in the middle of your practice round when you’re trying to see the course. Just kind of weird to me.”
Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Keegan Bradley and Brendon Steele played together in a practice round and embraced the contest.
Bradley set the early pace with a 326-yard drive, but Fowler beat it at 328. Mickelson hit his into the left rough.
Gary Woodland later hit a 330-yard drive to win the contest.
“I thought it was a great addition; we all loved it,” Mickelson said. “We all had fun with it. I hope they keep doing it.”