Bubba Watson was in 
college when he taught me a lesson that I’ll never forget: First impressions don’t always foretell who is going to perform well. The most authentic leaders are focused on what only they can do and are immune to the judgment of others.
I was at the outstanding golf facility at the University of Georgia, scouting his high-profile teammate, Ryuji Imada. Many agents were trying to get to know Ryuji; Bubba was known as his teammate with the unorthodox, self-taught swing and the kind of nickname that you don’t hear often inside the ropes of a major tournament.
Ryuji had come up through the superstar pipeline, relocating from Japan to Tampa when he was a teenager to work on his game, and he was projected to do magical things on the PGA Tour. He was kind of a quiet guy, skeptical. The team would go on to win the 1999 NCAA Championship, and the Georgia coach, Chris Haack, was thrilled to show me the new Boyd Center, the team’s clubhouse. Haack even knocked on the men’s locker room door.
“Ya,” a voice answered behind the door.
“You decent?” Haack replied. “I want to bring a female in to show her around.”
“Ya,” the voice replied.
As we rounded the row of lockers, I saw a player in the corner, facing away from us and working to re-grip his club.
“Who is that?” I asked.
“Bubba Watson,” Haack said.
Bubba showed no interest in talking to an agent or doing anything besides the task at hand—fixing his club. It was an easy call to pursue Ryuji, who we signed and who went on to a career year in 2008 with a top-20 season finish with $3 million in winnings and tournament victory.
Success Bubba Style
And we all know what Bubba did. That swing honed from years of hitting whiffle balls won the Masters twice; this week he defends his title. He has four top-5 finishes this season and ranks fifth on the money list.
Almost no one would have seen that kind of success that day he was re-gripping his club. Maybe not even Bubba. What attracts people to him, and I believe why he wins big, is that he is not afraid to be his authentic self, and lead with confidence when the most pressure is on.
Stepping up in the spotlight, and performing in the clutch to win at the level of the Masters, takes ownership of exactly who you are and what you have to offer, and what you can do in a high-pressure situation. In short, leaders and high performers must believe in what they bring to that moment, and not compare themselves to others or try to impress anyone. They have the courage to do what only they can do in that situation, and this is a mindset more than a skill set.
“It’s never been about ability for me,” he told USA Today this week. “It’s about my mind. If I get my mind in the right place, there’s not a shot I can’t hit. There’s not a golf course that can beat me. It’s about having the right focus, the right energy level. It’s all that wrapped into one for me. All of mine are mental issues.”
I didn’t get Bubba back in college, but he knew where he was going. He still does. That’s authentic leadership.
Your Game Changer Takeaway
Pro golfer Bubba Watson is a great example of a fearless, authentic leader who isn’t afraid to get a pie in his face on TV. He has won two Masters because he has a strong sense of self and balance from those around him. These help him recover quickly from adversity and lead boldly in moments of opportunity. You don’t have to copy a famous leader to lead famously. Be yourself.
Molly Fletcher helps inspire and equip game changers to lead well and with purpose. Her book, “A Winner’s Guide to Negotiating: How Conversation Gets Deals Done” (McGraw-Hill, 2014), draws on her decades as a sports agent and negotiator on behalf of pro athletes, coaches and broadcasters. Sign up here for our newsletter.
