Scottie Scheffler plans separate table for Bubba Watson at Masters Champs Dinner
Scottie Scheffler joked that LIV Golf participant Bubba Watson will have to sit on his own when he hosts the Masters Champions Dinner at Augusta National.
In a sport full of social media spats, divisions in the professional game and verbal wars between the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf Tour, Scottie Scheffler provides some much-needed calm and humour to golf.
Speaking ahead of the Sentry Tournament of Champions, an event Scheffler is almost over-qualified to play, he shared a plan he has for the Masters Champions Dinner which he must decide the menu for as the Green Jacket-holder.
The 26-year-old revealed he saw LIV Golf player Bubba Watson on vacation in Tennessee last year and he told the two-time Augusta conqueror about the sanctions he plans to impose on him come April.
"I haven't seen many of the LIV guys. I saw Bubba on vacation this year, and I told him that I was just going to have a separate table for him in the corner by himself (laughing) only kidding, obviously," Scheffler joked.
"I've thought a little bit about the menu. I did. I don't know exactly what I'm going to serve, but I've put a little bit of thought into it."
The possible tension at the Masters Champions Dinner also crossed Jon Rahm's mind as well, but luckily (or unluckily) for the Spaniard, he won't be in attendance.
Scheffler and Watson are friends. They were partners at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2021 and Ted Scott, Watson's old caddie, now loops for the World No.2.
On the serious side, Scheffler alluded to the sadness of the state of golf. The PGA Tour has suspended those who moved to LIV Golf and 11 of those players filed an antitrust lawsuit against the Tour.
Only three players may remain in this lawsuit, nonetheless, the trial set to begin in 2024 will take the sport into a realm not seen before. Scheffler believes golf will ride the storm and move on.
"In the world of golf, I think it's definitely a little sad what's happening. It's kind of weird this week. I get to my locker, and my locker's next to Cam Smith's locker, because he's a past champ here, and he's not here," he added.
"So it's a little strange, but golf will move on. I think this stuff just takes time. Things will heal and we'll see what happens.
"All that stuff is not really for me. I can only show up and just try and play good golf, and I'm not going to LIV anytime soon and so it's not of a concern for me at the moment."
Scheffler, who ended a hot streak of four wins in six events at The Masters in 2022, was dethroned by Rory McIlroy at the top of the world rankings when the Northern Irishman won the CJ Cup in October.
The American could return to the summit if he comes in the top three at the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua. He will be up against 16 other players from the top 20 this week.
