In the Spirit of Giving, Bubba Makes Big Donation to Phoenix Hospital


All season long, Bubba Watson has been raising money for charities through his "Bubba & Friends Drive to a Million." For every drive he hit over 300 yards in competition this year, he and his club sponsor PING donated $300.

In addition, PING donated $50 for every one of Watson's trademark pink-headed and -shafted drivers sold. The manufacturer made 5,000 of the limited-edition clubs, one of which Watson used to win the 2012 Masters.

On Wednesday while driving home after presenting a $250,000 check toward completion of of an orthopaedic gait analysis labratory at Phoenix Children's Hospital, Watson called the hospital and pledged another $110,000 to complete the facility.

His generous second donation allows the hospital to meet the $1 million funding goal for the project. The 2,800-square foot facility will serve pediatric patients with neuromuscular diseases and disabilities and be the first of its kind in Arizona.

"I am truly honored to partner with PING and be a part of an outstanding program," Watson said of his contributions. "It is great to see the project through and the positive impact the contribution will have on the community."

At the press conference announcing his initial donation, Watson said, "(Doctors can) watch (patients) on a computer screen . . . and see how they walk and different things, to pick certain joints which really cause the kids problems. They can see it through computers at this lab and help fix the problem.

"I play golf for a living, but I get to give back and be part of a hospital like this, give back to a community like this, hopefully impact some kids in the right way and do some positive things," added Watson, who fought through tears as he talked about helping the hospital.

"To have my name associated with this hospital . . . it's an honor," he said. "And so, I thank you very much."