Watson squeamish about controversial spray

Bubba Watson wants no part of deer-antler spray. The name alone makes the Masters champion a bit squeamish.

"It sounds like something I would never want near me ... I don't even know how you take deer-antler spray," Watson said on Wednesday at the Phoenix Open. "Who's the guy that thought of that? He might have been on something, too."

A day after a Sports Illustrated article on Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis put deer-antler spray in the news at the Super Bowl, Vijay Singh said he used the substance.

Watson has taken a lot of approved medications lately. After fighting through illness to tie for fourth in the season-opening Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, the Masters champion withdrew before the start of the Farmers Insurance Open last week in San Diego.

"I had strep throat in Maui and then I had the flu last week," Watson said. "My energy level isn't where I want it to be, about 80 percent right now ... Yesterday was the first time I played golf, and so about seven days off. I'm still kind of under the weather trying to get the medicine out of me. Kind of groggy, just don't have the energy. I lost about 10 pounds since Maui, but I want to be out there competing."

The long-hitting left-hander was paired with Olympic swimming star Michael Phelps in the pro-am on Wednesday before the start of play at TPC Scottsdale.

"Being able to play with Bubba, it's something else," Phelps said. "We were throwing jokes back and forth the whole entire time and keeping it very light."

Dodging another round of questions about his tax comments, Phil Mickelson didn't hold a media session, but answered a few questions for a PGA Tour media official.

"I always enjoy coming back to Phoenix," Mickelson said. "I lived here for 12 years. It's where I met (wife) Amy. It's where I've won a couple times, and the crowd and the people here create an environment that we don't see in any other golf tournament."

He caused a sensation by saying new federal and state tax rates kept him from being part of the San Diego Padres' ownership group and might cause him to move away from California.

Associated Press

(China Daily 02/01/2013 page23)