Bubba Watson just added a strange layer to his friendship with Tiger Woods. According to him, the jokes went too far and got him blocked.

Watson, who last played the Masters in 2023, has confirmed he will not compete in the 2026 tournament. On April 6, journalist Cameron Jourdan shared Watson’s comments on X. Watson spoke openly for over a minute about Tiger, and not once did he talk about scores or titles.

When Woods' name fills every preview and every panel discussion, it seems like Watson wasn't interested in any of that. But Watson said the quiet part out loud: "I don't have his phone number anymore. He blocks me because I make fun of him all the time."

Half the room laughed, but Watson actually meant it. Seven years ago, he drove to Augusta, gathered past champions inside the locker room, and made sure they were standing there when Woods walked off the 18th green. Nobody put him up to it.

Woods remembered. When the two later served as Ryder Cup captains, he told Watson directly how much that day had stayed with him.

Watson's Own Mental Health Battles Make His Support for Tiger Woods Hit Different

Watson is not saying this from a comfortable distance. He's been through his own version of it.

"Anybody that's struggling with anything, I feel for him because I've gone through a lot of mental stuff."

He's talked about anxiety and about the years it took to get his head right, and about how hard that work was. So when he stands at Augusta on a Monday morning and says he feels for anyone going through something tough.

Woods stepped away this month because of a crash in Florida, a DUI charge, and treatment. The absence speaks for itself.

Watson didn't dance around any of it. "I always pull for him," Watson said. "Nothing but love for him."

Their friendship dates back to 2006, from early practice rounds before either became a major winner, through team events and a Ryder Cup captaincy, to that 2019 locker room moment when Watson gathered past champions to welcome Woods; something no one asked him to do.

"Hopefully he can come back stronger," he said.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav