Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson will be stepping away from competitive golf for the rest of 2025 after undergoing a minor procedure on his ring finger.
The 46-year-old LIV Golf star confirmed the news in a heartfelt social media post, revealing he had developed a small growth on his left ring finger that was causing pain and making it difficult to grip his clubs properly. Doctors identified it as a lesion and advised surgery to have it removed.
Watson followed their advice and has since had the procedure done. While it was minor, it means he’ll need around eight weeks of rest and rehab before he can swing a club again — enough time to rule him out of the remaining Asian Tour International Series events in the Philippines and Hong Kong this month.
“In recent weeks, I developed a small growth on my left ring finger that’s been causing me pain and affecting my ability to grip a golf club,” Watson shared. “My doctors recommended a minor procedure to have it removed, which I’ve done. Because of the location and depth of the cuts around a joint, it’s expected to keep me from playing for up to eight weeks.”
Watson said he’s disappointed to miss the events but is thankful it’s only a short-term setback.
“I was really looking forward to playing in the Philippines and Hong Kong,” he added. “But I’m grateful this isn’t serious, and I’ll be ready for the new LIV Golf season in February 2026. I appreciate the tournaments for being so understanding and supportive.”
Watson captains RangeGoats GC, which features teammates Peter Uihlein, Matt Wolff, and Ben Campbell. The team finished 10th out of 13 at this year’s LIV Golf Team Championship, with Watson himself showing strong late-season form — including four top-10 finishes in his last eight events and a runner-up result at LIV Golf UK at JCB in July.
It’s been a comeback year for the veteran left-hander, who finished 11th in the individual standings, a significant improvement from 2024 when he flirted with relegation.
Watson also made his traditional return to The Masters this year, where he posted a solid T14 finish at 3-under-par — proving he’s still got plenty of competitive fire left.
While his 2025 season is ending earlier than planned, fans can expect Bubba back in full swing — literally — when the 2026 LIV Golf League tees off in Saudi Arabia from February 5–7, 2026.
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