One of the many perks of winning a major championship is the opportunity to hit the media circuit in New York City. Soon after the winning putt drops, a representative from the PGA Tour asks the champion if they would be open to spending 1-2 days in Manhattan. Once the player agrees, a whirlwind of phone calls and emails begins to assemble a full schedule of events. When the storyline is as compelling as Bubba's and transcends golf, it becomes somewhat easier as the national media are eager to learn more about this special athlete.
What you don't see on TV is all the activity that surrounds the player with every step they take and door that opens in the "big city." In a city with so much activity, no matter where you go, people are eager to see who steps out of the limo that just pulled up. Every time the door opens, there's a crowd with camera waiting. Every studio you enter is full of people who want a picture or just to see the green jacket. I remember escorting Todd Hamilton around NYC after his British Open win. Very early in the day, we stepped out of the car at CNN where two men were waiting. They immediately recognized him from TV and asked to see the Claret Jug. He not only showed them, he handed it over! To two strangers. In New York City. And the Claret Jug lived to tell about it. The day is filled with many of these unexpected moments.
Bubba's day began with an unannounced visit to the set of Golf Channel's Morning Drive before jetting north to New York. While the hosts were clearly stunned, they quickly began digging into the key moments of the final round and all the emotion surrounding the victory.
Once he landed in Manhattan, Bubba found himself across from some of the biggest news and entertainment personalities in the world, including David Letterman and Piers Morgan. The interview with Morgan is especially entertaining as Bubba has a very friendly and comical exchange with the host, who seems to thrive on the banter. Bubba also had some fun with Letterman, describing his style of play as "awesome."
Bubba also met with Darren Rovell, the sports business reporter for CNBC to learn more about the long-hitting lefty and what his Masters victory might mean from a business perspective. The highlight here had to be Bubba wandering around the set on live television, having some fun with the news anchors at the desk!
Follow Bubba today as he completes his media tour by checking out the PGA Tour's Tour Report which features live updates. Here's the update of day two.