Bubba Watson will keep looking for a miracle

“When it comes to creativity on the golf course, that’s just who I am,” said Watson, who is back in action this week defending the Zurich Classic title in New Orleans.

The 33-year-old American was in the trees on the second extra hole against Louis Oosthuizen in the play-off at Augusta, but hooked the ball some 40 yards off pine straw and on to the green for a winning par.

“That’s just what I’ve done, so that doesn’t scare me,” he said. “It thrills me because then I can pull off some shots. That’s more exciting. I don’t care if the fans were there or what. If I was just playing with my buddies I’d want to pull that shot off.

“I’m just Bubba from Bagdad, Florida. I play golf because I love the game of golf, because it’s fun. Every day is different. Some days it’s windy, some days it’s not. Some days the ground is firm, some days it’s wet. You always challenge yourself.

“I think it resonates with everybody because I’m from a small town, I played public golf courses growing up and I think that everybody can see that my swing is home-grown.

“That means everybody has a chance to do it. Hard work, dedication, practice and the drive to do it – and not worry about what other people say.

“Where I grew up with plastic golf balls I just learned to hit in the trees, through the trees, over the trees, under the trees.”

On the shot for which he is now most famous, Watson added: “As a child I was used to seeing shots like that. When I saw it, I go: ‘Phew, I’m pretty good.’ But I try to pull off the amazing shot, just like we’ve seen [Phil] Mickelson and Tiger [Woods] pull off shots – everybody that’s won you’ve seen pull off shots like that.”

The field also includes England’s Luke Donald and Justin Rose and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell. With Rory McIlroy not having played since the Masters concluded on 8 April – he is back at next week’s Wells Fargo Championship – Donald will go back to world No 1 with a top-seven finish.