Bubba Watson new Bob Hope Classic leader

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Bubba Watson has a two-shot lead over Shane Bertsch and Joe Ogilvie at the Bob Hope Classic and Watson’s name should be familiar to golf fans, at least in a ‘heard of him but I don’t know why’ kind of way.

Watson was the only American in the final threesome of the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont in Pennsylvania. He ended up finishing tied for fifth, by far his best performance on a big golf stage. He has three PGA Tour runnerup finishes and, at 6-3, is an inch shorter than his wife Angie (Ball) Watson. Angie played college basketball at the University of Georgia and helped the Bulldogs get to the 1999 Final Four. She also played a year in the WNBA for the Charlotte Sting.

Watson is six-under par after his first seven holes today at the SilverRock course and 12-under for the tournament.

Also sneaking onto the leader board is defending champion Pat Perez, who is now tied for eighth at eight-under (he’s four-under after 13 holes today at La Quinta).

-- Diane Pucin