Bubba Watson, Rules Savant

It's a shame that Rory McIlroy was halfway around the world this weekend, as he missed a teachable moment from an unlikely source.  We spoke of Rory's brush with and deplorable grasp of the rules of the game at which he makes a living here, here, and here.

Right on cue from Stage Left comes the guy you would least expect to show us how it's done.  Bubba is an engagingly wacky character, equal parts Forest Gump and golf savant (sorry, there's that word again).  For me, savant is the only word that seems apt, get a load of this anecdote from a 2009 Jaime Diaz profile in Golf Digest:

The anecdote that might say the most about his improvisational virtuosity occurred last year during the tour stop at Colonial. Playing with his wife and his caddie, Ted Scott, in the afternoon at nearby Vaquero, a big, challenging course where several tour players practice, Watson used only a 4-wood for every stroke, including putts, and shot 77 from the 7,000-yard-plus tips.

Bubba has also been refreshingly candid about his Attention Deficit Disorder, which is why I labeled him an unlikely candidate to be focused on the rules.  In the present instance, Bubba hit a crooked drive on the Par 13th at TPC Scottsdale, and if you follow golf you know that Bubba's crooked is crookeder than most.  From the AP account:

Watson's drive on the par-5 13th went into a desert bush and settled next to a burrowing animal hole that would have interfered with his swing, giving him a free drop. 

''Right next to my ball was a burrowing animal hole and my club was going to hit it at impact,'' Watson said. ''It was big hole and the club would get caught on it. So, I got a free drop and could easily wedge it out.''

So class, what have we learned?  Perhaps that knowing the rules can help one in his or her chosen field.  But, alas, Rory has more important things to do.  My suggestion, Rors, is that you buy Bubba a drink at the Match Play (which I believe to be their next meeting) and do a lot of listening...