Bubba Watson gets emotional discussing green jacket

Bubba Watson was brought to tears again in Augusta.

The emotional player wiped away tears after winning his first major in a sudden-death playoff at the Mas­ters Tournament last year. When asked Tuesday what he did with his green jacket, Wat­son broke down again.

The news conference moderator, an Augusta Na­tional Golf Club member, mentioned driving Watson last year to Butler Cabin. Watson spoke then of his green jacket plans.

“I told him I was going to go home and wrap Caleb up in it,” said Watson, referring to his recently adopted son. He wiped away tears, then took a sip of water and composed himself. “That’s the only thing I did with it. Out of respect and honor for Au­gusta National, as one of the greatest clubs we have, as one of the greatest tournaments, out of respect for them, I didn’t do any of my funny antics that I normally would do.”

Watson returned two weeks ago to “The Spot,” the place in the pine trees right of the No. 10 fairway where, from 162 yards out, he hooked his 52-degree wedge around the corner and onto the green to set up a two-putt par to defeat Louis Oosthuizen on the second hole of their 2012 playoff.

Watson said he has no plans to replicate the shot.

“I’d never hit it again,” he said. “Well, unless Thursday through Sunday … I’ve been known to hit it in the trees.”

Watson was asked his thoughts about a permanent marker commemorating the Mas­ters highlight.

“Who wouldn’t want to see a plaque saying ‘Bubba’ in the middle of the pine straw?” he said.

While most of the pre-Mas­ters hype has been about Tiger Woods, the 34-year-old Watson has quietly put together a solid season. In six PGA Tour events, he’s posted five top-20 finishes.

“My stats probably show that I was better last year,” said Watson, who ranks in the top 10 on the tour in driving distance and greens in regulation. “My mind, my physical, my preparation, is the same.

“You never know what’s going to happen. I feel the same. I feel good.”

Watson is bidding to become just the fourth player to win back-to-back Masters. The elite class includes Jack Nick­laus (1965-66), Nick Fal­do (1989-90) and Tiger Woods (2001-02).

“As a competitor, as a believer in my game, then, yeah, I can see pulling it off,” Watson said. “It wouldn’t shock me. I would still cry, but it wouldn’t shock me.

“I’m going out there and I want to make the cut because first off, I don’t want to have to sit around and give somebody the green jacket. I want to be here on Sunday, playing.”