Here’s a name to remember: Bubba Watson. No, he’s not your sister’s new boyfriend that works down at the Denny’s. He’s the newest long-hitting phenom to burst onto the PGA Tour. This guy outdrives Daly, Tiger, Mickelson - all of ‘em.

A graduate of the Nationwide Tour, where talented players pay their dues before possibly making the big leagues, Bubba is a character as well as a big hitter. Here’s an example of his sense of humor:

As soon as I was born, 10 seconds later my dad said, ‘He’s fat and ugly. Let’s call him Bubba.’

He’s a good mix of self-deprecation and bravado, which often plays well on the pro tour, with all of the big egos and some famously snooty attitudes. His real first name is Gerry (pronounced like ‘Gary’), but he’s definitely got a ‘Bubba’ personality!

Hailing from near Pensacola, FL in a little town called Bagdad, Bubba (who’s dad also goes by that name) was handed a 9-iron when he was six years old and told to hit it as hard and as far as he could. That’s good advice for any kid. After all, at that age, they don’t care about control and rules. They want to be like Tiger or John Daly and smash it as far as they can. In Bubba’s case, it certainly worked!

He led the Nationwide Tour last year in driving distance (334 yards). He hit one 422 yards in 2004 during a tournament. Earlier this year, during a 4th-place finish at the Sony Invitational - his very first event on the PGA Tour - he AVERAGED 336 yards off the tee, and hit one drive 398 yards! The kid can bash ‘em!

So watch out for this guy on tour. He’s got game beyond the long ball, too.