The build up to the 2023 Masters has begun.

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In three weeks time. the great and the good of the golfing world will converge at Augusta National for the traditional first major of the year. And 2023 has added spice.

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The famous 13th hole – Azalea – has been lengthened in an attempt to narrow the drive, and therefore the eagle opportunity, whilst there are even changes to the infamous par-3 course, the traditional pre-event jamboree with players bringing along wives and children to take control of the bag.

There is also the small matter of Augusta National permitting current LIV players into the event, stating that, “Each April, the Masters assembles the world’s leading golfers to compete for the Green Jacket and a place in history.” With the likes of Dustin Johnson and Cam Smith now allowed to play, this is the first time in 2023 that we will see a competition between the true world’s best.

The media will hype it, and the famous Masters dinner will also be the focus of attention, being a collection of defending champions that include players with diametrically opposing views on the PGA and LIV tours.

One of the jumpers to LIV was two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson.

He will be one of a few past champions to turn up at Augusta for the Masters Champions Dinner this year and, whilst the journos will be looking for something more interesting to write, he sees no bother. Furthermore, he’s looking forward to the dinner itself and meeting up with ex-caddy Ted Scott, on the bag for both major wins and now, ironically, helping Scottie Scheffler defend his green jacket.

At the press conference for this week’s LIV Golf Tuscon, Bubba told reporters that:

“I think it’s going to be great. I still talk to guys on the PGA TOUR. I still talk to people that work on staff at the PGA TOUR. It’s been amazing communicating with them.”

Contradicting popular thought, he continued, “I still reach out on their birthdays, reach out at Christmas. We still talk. I still watch and pull for my guys. So I can’t wait to get there because when you’re wearing the green jacket at the dinner, everything goes out the window. You know how blessed you are to be in that room and how thankful you are to be in that room. I’ve already talked to guys, and we can’t wait to hang out because I haven’t seen Ted Scott in a while.

Despite the Champions Dinner menus having golf fans salivating every year, Bubba then admitted a bizarre pre-dinner routine, that involves him eating multiple burritos before the meal.

I’ll give you a secret, normally I eat before, eat a couple burritos before I go to the dinner because I don’t know what they’re going to have. But when I saw his menu, definitely want the dessert and I definitely want a couple sliders. So yeah, I can’t wait. It’ll be fun.”

Bubba definitely marches to the beat of his own drum, but this year he won’t be missing out on Scotties’ delights.

Served in Honor of Mr. Scottie Scheffler. #themasters pic.twitter.com/AbpHBJ4MgN

— The Masters (@TheMasters) March 15, 2023

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