Bubba Watson is never one to live life by the book. From his General Lee car to his pink driver, Watson marches to the beat of his own drum. Apparently that goes as far as the golf ball he is playing as well. Watson recently switched from Titleist to a little-known Asian company called Volvik, whose most well-known staffer was previously Se Ri Pak or Craig Stadler.

Watson will play both a white and pink golf ball starting at the Tournament of Champions in 2017.

''If we're going to challenge ourselves, let's challenge ourselves to make something that's really off the wall, that's still playable,'' Watson told the Associated Press. "You talk about growing the game, why would you not want people to have more fun, make the game more fun, interesting and creative? Same thing that Ping let me do with a pink driver.''

According to the AP, Watson actually Googled Volvik after the World Long Drive Championship before disclosing his interest and then tested the golf balls in the offseason. There is reportedly a green ball in the works for Augusta, and Watson is supposedly getting paid quite handsomely.


This is an intriguing move from Watson, who once refused to participate in a long drive contest at the PGA Championship because he thought the whole thing was a little too goofy. Now, he's trying to bring back the colored golf ball.

I don't begrudge him for it -- I don't mind golfers trying to have a little fun -- but it will be interesting to see if it translates on the amateur level and whether Watson sticks with it long-term after moving away from the No. 1 ball in golf.