JJ Watt – a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time All-Pro. Watt built a career on overpowering and defeating the linemen. But now he’s about to do something he has always dreamed of, but just a small problem – he hasn’t swung a club in over a year. And if we go by his confession – things do look a little dicey.
Everyone knows how JJ Watt loves and enjoys golf. He annually participates in the American Century Championship (a celebrity golf tournament). And when Watt retired from the NFL, his Arizona Cardinals teammates gifted him a custom Scotty Cameron putter – knowing exactly he would cherish that the most.
So, for him to be invited to the Augusta Nationals is seriously – a dream come true. For those who don’t follow golf religiously, Augusta National is not your typical weekend muni. It’s the golf version of an obstacle course created by a cruel perfectionist.
And Watt seems to be aware that he is in trouble, which is why a viral reel on IG caught his attention. The reel was from a golf content creator, Brandon Cubitt (@newninegolf). In the clip, Cubitt acknowledges Watt’s predicament and generously offers a golf tip to help him survive Augusta. His advice? A short-sighted flop shot trick that, according to him, is as easy as opening and closing a door.
Sounds simple enough, right? Well, Watt wasn’t buying it. Sharing the reel on his IG story, he wrote: “Buddy, if I try that, I’m gonna skull a Titleist right through somebody’s dome…” That’s…fair. Flop shots are high-risk, high-reward – it’s more likely to end in disaster than a picture-perfect Phil Mickelson moment. Because the guy hasn’t played in over a year.
Can JJ Watt tackle Augusta’s challenge?
Earlier, Watt took to social media to share the big news with his followers, posting a video where his excitement was palpable. “Alright, so here’s the deal. I am playing Augusta National the day after the Masters final, that is, one month from now. Now, besides the fact that this is a dream come true—I mean, this is insane. Shout out to David Berson at CBS, my guy, setting it up. I haven’t swung a golf club in, gotta be over a year.”
Despite his love for golf, Watt admitted that life had kept him away from the game for a while, and now he faced a dilemma. “How much better at golf can you get in one month? Because I would say that when I am playing frequently, I am a 95 to 105 golfer on a normal course.” Seeking advice, he asked his audience, “Do I even try to improve, or do I just go in cold turkey? I don’t know. Let me know.”
Later, he doubled down on his self-deprecating humor on X, “How much better at golf can you get in one month? I may set the Augusta National record… (not the good one).”
But the good news is that Watt isn’t completely going in blind—he estimates himself to be roughly a 25-handicap, which means he has some experience. The bad news? Augusta doesn’t care about your experiences; it only cares about exposing your flaws in front of whoever’s watching.
So, what’s his game plan? That’s the real question. Every golfer has faced this dilemma—do you cram like a college kid the night before finals, squeezing in a few panic practice sessions, or do you go in cold and just accept your fate? With the Masters wrapping up on April 14th, Watt doesn’t have much time to decide. A few warm-up rounds might help, but let’s be honest—no amount of practice is going to make Augusta’s greens any less terrifying.
Regardless of the outcome, this is bound to be entertaining. Whether Watt miraculously finds his swing or spends the day sending golf balls into oblivion, one thing’s for sure—he’ll have a story to tell. And hey, if all else fails, he can just blame the wind. That’s what the pros do, right?
The post JJ Watt’s Vulnerable Confession on Golf Skills as NFL Legend Faces Huge Predicament Ahead of First Augusta National appeared first on EssentiallySports.