Legendary golfer, cover star Bubba Watson fêted at downtown Naples restaurant
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Legendary golf pro Bubba Watson visited a downtown Naples restaurant last week, kicking off the launch of a new magazine.
Watson attended a private dinner Oct. 25 at Sails Restaurant for the debut Naples issue of Haute Living.
He made headlines over the summer when he announced that he was swapping the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, a professional golf tour financed by the Saudi Arabian regime’s Public Investment Fund.
"Me, as a kid from Bagdad, Florida, I didn’t grow up with much money, and now you’re telling me I have a chance to be part of this organization that’s like baseball, or football, or basketball — now golf is going to try to do this," Watson told Haute Living writer Laura Schreffler in the latest issue.
"And then I thought, to bring it back: helping. I want to help kids. And so when I think about the money, and how I can use it to support a community — the better I do, the more impact I can have, such as helping kids around Pensacola with our Junior Golf Program. We’ve been wanting to build a village in Guatemala."
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Four fun facts about Bubba
Favorite candy store: Bubba's Sweet Spot in Pensacola (he owns it.)
Favorite sweet treats: Peanut M&Ms and funfetti birthday cake. Chef Darren Veilleux prepared this treat for Watson's celebration in Naples.
Favorite Naples golf course: Tiburon, where he played its QBE Shootout for many years.
Favorite Naples restaurant: True Food Kitchen.
While on the PGA Tour, Watson won the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, twice (2012 and 2014) and other golf tournaments.
The Oct. 25 celebration served as a fundraiser for the nonprofit GEM Global Empowerment Mission, with a check for $25,000 presented by the magazine's CEO Seth Semilof, whose magazine is known for its philanthropic endeavors in each market it serves, and Macallan Scotch. An additional $25,000 was raised during the dinner to benefit Naples residents affected by Hurricane Ian's destruction.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: LIV golfer Bubba Watson headlines charity dinner in downtown Naples
