Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson is a self-described “softie.” So imagine how affected he was by a tour through City of Hope, a cancer research hospital in Duarte that is also the official charity of the Northern Trust Open.
As defending champion, Watson was on hand for a pre-tournament event that featured three patients in a Grilled Cheese Cook-Off. Apparently he loves the stuff and the children are big Watson fans.
“To see this, to talk with the children and doctors, to see where the charity dollars are going and what they do is a thrill for me,” Watson said. “What an honor. It’s a privilege to be a part of this and to help in any way I can.”
Watson is heavily involved in charitable causes, many involving children, families and the military. His father, a former Green Beret, died of throat cancer in early 2011, and Watson and his wife, Angie, are the parents of two adopted children. He knows that his status as one of the top U.S. golfers and the defending champion at Augusta as well this month give him a chance to rally people to good causes.
“The green jacket is beautiful, it’s fun to wear for selfish reasons,” Watson said about the coveted apparel that goes to Masters winners. “But the platform it gives me to give back and to be a role model is more important than any tournament won. … As long as I keep playing good it gives me a bigger platform to raise charity dollars and use my voice as much as I can to help kids in need and families in need.”
The only platform Watson was concerned about at the City of Hope event a week about a week prior to the Northern Trust Open was the one he shared with the cook-off contestants: Tyler Cordova, 12, who has non-Hodgkin lymphoma; Kara Casas, 10, who is undergoing treatments for leukemia; and Rhys Hunn, 12, who is being treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia.
After sampling the budding chef’s grilled cheese sandwiches, Watson deemed Karah’s creation of turkey, bacon, tomato and spicy cheddar jack cheese on wheat bread the winner. Her sandwich was dubbed the Bubba Melt and served from The Grilled Cheese Truck during the tournament at Riviera Country Club.
“How special is that?” Watson remarked about the culinary honor. “It’s something that I love. Hopefully it catches on.”
