“What is this guy smoking?” – 2x Masters champion Bubba Watson sparks controversy among golf fans with BOLD take regarding Scottie Scheffler and Tiger Woods

In an interview, Bubba Watson claimed that Scottie Scheffler's 2024 season was better than Tiger Woods' historic 2000 campaign.

“What is this guy smoking?” – 2x Masters champion Bubba Watson sparks controversy among golf fans with BOLD take regarding Scottie Scheffler and Tiger Woods

Scottie Scheffler, Bubba Watson and Tiger Woods (Image via Imago/Golf)

Ahead of the 2025 Masters Tournament, 2-time champion of this event, Bubba Watson, has sparked controversy among golf fans. In a recent interview, he claimed that Scottie Scheffler‘s 2024 year was better than Tiger Woods‘ 2000 year.

Scheffler, the current World No.1, claimed 9 victories in the 2024 season. This included him becoming the first player to win The Players Championship on back-to-back occasions, adding another green jacket while winning the Masters, and taking home the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.

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Woods also won 9 times in the year 2000. This year is claimed by many as one of the best golfing seasons of any player. The former World No.1 won 3 major championships that year, while setting a record at the U.S. Open.

He won this major title by an astonishing 15-stroke lead. As of 2025, Woods still holds the record for the biggest margin of victory in any major championship. The following year, Woods won his second Masters title and became the first player to hold all four major championships. This achievement was later dubbed as the “Tiger Slam“.

Scheffler’s 9-victory season has led to many discussions regarding who had a better year among them. As for Watson, Scheffler gets the nod ahead of Woods. He pointed out Scheffler’s bond with his caddie Ted Scott, who previously caddied for Watson.

Scottie was already a great golfer. But that friendship and that bond [with Ted Scott], he went to an elite golfer. I mean that was the best year we’ve seen. I know Tiger did some stuff in 2000. But Scottie’s year was the best we’ve ever seen. With all the talent around the world, that was it. I think it’s amazing.

Bubba Watson said in an interview with Sean Zak of Golf.com

Golf fans slam Bubba Watson following take on Scottie Scheffler and Tiger Woods

As the interview of Bubba Watson with Sean Zak went viral, he became the center of controversy among golf fans. Him claiming that Scottie Scheffler had a better year than Tiger Woods‘ 2000 season has not sat well with them on social media.

Scottie Scheffler, Bubba Watson and Tiger Woods
Scottie Scheffler, Bubba Watson and Tiger Woods (Image via Imago/SB Nation)

Many users on X slammed him and called him out while disagreeing with his take. Meanwhile, one user wrote, “What is this guy smoking?” while reacting to this development on X.

Check out that and some other reactions from X below:

The RangeGoats GC captain currently finds himself in the Open Zone in the individual standings of LIV Golf for the 2025 season. In the 4 events so far, he has not finished inside the top-10 in any of them. His best finish this year came at the LIV Golf Riyadh event, where he finished T12.

Bubba Watson recently claimed LIV Golf was here to ‘stay’ amid merger talks

Amid the PGA Tour-PIF merger talks, there have been talks about the reunification of the game, which would see players play under one tour. This has led to some wondering regarding what will happen to LIV Golf. In a recent interview, the 2-time major champion claimed that LIV Golf was here to ‘stay’.

Bubba Watson
Bubba Watson (Image via Imago)

Earlier this year, the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the R&A opened up pathways for LIV Golfers to qualify for the U.S. Open and the Open Championship, respectively. While welcoming this decision, Watson claimed that LIV Golf was heading into the right direction.

This is a start in the right direction. That people recognize that LIV is here to stay and that LIV is not going anywhere, and it’s only getting better.

Bubba Watson told the reporters as per Golf Monthly ahead of LIV Golf Singapore

Before this, Watson also claimed that the top 15 LIV Golfers in the standings should get entry into all four major championships of the year. While the USGA and the R&A have opened up ways for them to qualify, there is no such thing as of yet for the Masters Tournament and the PGA Championship. Those two events though, do sent out invitations to golfers which includes some LIV golfers as well.

Watson will now turn his attention towards the Masters Tournament. As a former champion, he will be on the plane to the Augusta National. He is one of the 12 representative from the LIV Golf league in the first major championship of this year.