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Up and Down: Victories and Struggles in the Course of Life
He was a small-town boy who burst onto the international golf scene with a dramatic hook shot from deep in the woods to win the Masters— before the game he loved almost killed him. Opening up about the toll that chasing and achieving his dream of being a champion golfer took on his mental health, Bubba Watson shares his powerful story of the breaking point that gave him clarity. Bubba Watson is known as the big-hitting left-handed golfer who plays with the pink driver—the small-town kid who grew up as a child golf prodigy before going on to win two Masters Tournaments, competing in the Olympics, and rising to be the number two golfer in the world. But every dream comes with a price. Feeling that he was never good enough, Bubba began to let the constant criticism from fans and commentators haunt his thoughts. Success in the game he loved was killing him. In Up and Down , Bubba opens up about his debilitating anxiety attacks, the death of his father and namesake, adopting his children, and how reaching a breaking point professionally and personally drew him closer to his family and God. Golf is what Bubba Watson does, but it is not who he is . Through his story, you'll learn how Life, like golf, is filled with ups and downs. Up and Down is the inspiring story of an imperfect man striving to become the best person he can be—wherever the course may take him.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published November 2, 2021
77 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 20, 2021
Listened to the audiobook (very fast listen). I like reading memoirs of accomplished people, regardless of if I am previously familiar with the person. I was not familiar with Bubba Watson besides knowing he was a famous golfer. The book was written in a way that felt incredibly repetitive such that sometimes I would check to make sure I didn't accidentally back-up the audio to a previous chapter. Additionally, Bubba made clear he didn't want to use the entire book to focus on golf. However, the reason he can write this book and have an audience for it is golf. I would have loved to of dived deeper into practice, matches, etc.
Also, it turns out Bubba is known for having some sort of temper on the golf course. He spent a lot of time trying to apologize / defend for past actions. As an outsider, it didn't come across as genuine. I think a lot of my issues with the book could have been helped by having a better ghost writer. I would only recommend this to someone who is a massive golf fan.
Also, it turns out Bubba is known for having some sort of temper on the golf course. He spent a lot of time trying to apologize / defend for past actions. As an outsider, it didn't come across as genuine. I think a lot of my issues with the book could have been helped by having a better ghost writer. I would only recommend this to someone who is a massive golf fan.
July 28, 2022
Updated post-LIV: I was a Bubba fan before. I am a Bubba fan. I will continue to be a Bubba fan, especially knowing that what he pursues outside of golf is not to make a buck but to make a difference.
I appreciated his vulnerability in relating his struggles. I liked the behind-the-scenes glimpses of the rarefied air of a touring PGA pro and two-time Masters champion.
That said, the book read like a straightforward biography. I expected it to dig a little deeper, especially considering the title and subtitle.
But if I were that famous, how deeply would I want strangers to know me?
Recommended for golf fans.
I appreciated his vulnerability in relating his struggles. I liked the behind-the-scenes glimpses of the rarefied air of a touring PGA pro and two-time Masters champion.
That said, the book read like a straightforward biography. I expected it to dig a little deeper, especially considering the title and subtitle.
But if I were that famous, how deeply would I want strangers to know me?
Recommended for golf fans.
November 25, 2025
4 Stars for Up and Down by Bubba Watson and Don Yaeger
As a longtime Bubba Watson fan—and a fellow lefty golfer—I really enjoyed this honest and heartfelt memoir. Bubba has always stood out to me for his creativity on the golf course. The man hits shots that look like they were dreamed up on a driving range dare, yet he’s pulled them off on the biggest stages, winning two Masters and a dozen PGA Tour events. He’s truly an artist with a golf club, and that’s a big part of why I picked up this book.
I also have family in Pensacola, so I’ve seen firsthand what he means to the Florida Panhandle. Bubba is everywhere down there, from community projects to the Blue Wahoos AA baseball team he co-owns. That hometown pride runs through the book, and it gives his story a real sense of place and purpose. Best ice cream in town at his sweets shop!
Another thing I admire about Bubba is his willingness to talk openly about his faith, his anxiety, and his personal struggles. He’s a man of faith, and I’m sure this book is a big seller in religious bookstores, but it never comes off as overly preachy. It’s sincere and grounded—just like the way he currently carries himself.
That said, I would have liked more golf. With someone as inventive as Bubba, I’d happily read chapters of him breaking down those wild hooks and slices he uses to bend a course to his will. A little more of that inside-the-ropes magic would have made this even stronger in my book.
As for the LIV debate—honestly, I don’t care. People need to do what’s best for their families. If someone offers you guaranteed money to play a sport you love, more power to you.
All in all, Up and Down is a warm, candid memoir from one of the most unique golfers of his generation. Highly recommended for Bubba fans, golf nuts, or anyone who appreciates a story of faith, resilience, and finding your own way. (Review of the Audiobook)
As a longtime Bubba Watson fan—and a fellow lefty golfer—I really enjoyed this honest and heartfelt memoir. Bubba has always stood out to me for his creativity on the golf course. The man hits shots that look like they were dreamed up on a driving range dare, yet he’s pulled them off on the biggest stages, winning two Masters and a dozen PGA Tour events. He’s truly an artist with a golf club, and that’s a big part of why I picked up this book.
I also have family in Pensacola, so I’ve seen firsthand what he means to the Florida Panhandle. Bubba is everywhere down there, from community projects to the Blue Wahoos AA baseball team he co-owns. That hometown pride runs through the book, and it gives his story a real sense of place and purpose. Best ice cream in town at his sweets shop!
Another thing I admire about Bubba is his willingness to talk openly about his faith, his anxiety, and his personal struggles. He’s a man of faith, and I’m sure this book is a big seller in religious bookstores, but it never comes off as overly preachy. It’s sincere and grounded—just like the way he currently carries himself.
That said, I would have liked more golf. With someone as inventive as Bubba, I’d happily read chapters of him breaking down those wild hooks and slices he uses to bend a course to his will. A little more of that inside-the-ropes magic would have made this even stronger in my book.
As for the LIV debate—honestly, I don’t care. People need to do what’s best for their families. If someone offers you guaranteed money to play a sport you love, more power to you.
All in all, Up and Down is a warm, candid memoir from one of the most unique golfers of his generation. Highly recommended for Bubba fans, golf nuts, or anyone who appreciates a story of faith, resilience, and finding your own way. (Review of the Audiobook)
November 12, 2025
A professional athlete willing to open up about their vulnerabilities is rare. By sharing his challenges with the world Bubba reminds us that our weakness is our greatest strength.
June 26, 2022
Bubba Watson burst into the golf spotlight by winning the 2012 Masters with an incredible hook shot out of trouble. From there, he became just as notable for becoming an unlikable person and because of this he was suffering from mental health issues. How he handled them and has found himself in a better place is the main focus of his memoir written with Don Yaeger.
Watson became known as “Bubba from Bagdad” as he grew up in this small town in the Florida panhandle. He was supported by his parents to attempt to fulfill his dreams of making it in professional golf, although he did have some hiccups along the way. Unlike many other memoirs and biographies, I found this part of his story just as interesting as his victories in the Masters (he also won in 2014) or his adult personal life.
Watson’s account of his unusual path to success in golf at the University of Georgia is a story with many twists that in the end will work out well for him. Not only did he have success on the course despite not being a part of the team during his senior year, he also met his wife Angie. She was also an athlete – a member of the Georgia women’s basketball team who had aspirations of a WNBA career that didn’t happen mainly due to injury.
Once Watson embarked on a professional golf career, his story and the book progresses well, despite some repetition and also some stories that feel like they were not complete. One example of this is his relationship with his caddy Teddy Scott. Watson gives him a lot of credit for everything – improving his golf game, giving him a stern talk when his behavior was putting off many of his fellow pro golfers and reminding him of his priorities for both his family (he and Angie adopted two children) and his faith. But after setting Bubba straight, it is unknow what has become of Teddy.
His faith, and that of his wife, is an important part of this book and Watson’s story – it is never far from his thoughts. It certainly helped him change the behavior that made him the person who would be the least likely to receive assistance from fellow golfers if he ran into trouble off the course. That isn’t the exact wording of what this informal poll revealed, but it is a illustration of how Watson acted on and off the course – and his explanations of how and why he was that way was adequate, but did not feel completely genuine.
Because of this vagueness, I felt this memoir lacked true reflection but Watson does come across as sincere and truly wanting to be a better person. For that, I given him credit for not only making his life better, but also for still playing well enough on the PGA tour to be a top-ranked player. He does talk about his golf, but not as much as his personal life. That is something that a reader should consider before deciding to pick up this book – it worked out fine, but it may not satisfy readers who want to read more about the game instead of the person.
I wish to thank Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
Watson became known as “Bubba from Bagdad” as he grew up in this small town in the Florida panhandle. He was supported by his parents to attempt to fulfill his dreams of making it in professional golf, although he did have some hiccups along the way. Unlike many other memoirs and biographies, I found this part of his story just as interesting as his victories in the Masters (he also won in 2014) or his adult personal life.
Watson’s account of his unusual path to success in golf at the University of Georgia is a story with many twists that in the end will work out well for him. Not only did he have success on the course despite not being a part of the team during his senior year, he also met his wife Angie. She was also an athlete – a member of the Georgia women’s basketball team who had aspirations of a WNBA career that didn’t happen mainly due to injury.
Once Watson embarked on a professional golf career, his story and the book progresses well, despite some repetition and also some stories that feel like they were not complete. One example of this is his relationship with his caddy Teddy Scott. Watson gives him a lot of credit for everything – improving his golf game, giving him a stern talk when his behavior was putting off many of his fellow pro golfers and reminding him of his priorities for both his family (he and Angie adopted two children) and his faith. But after setting Bubba straight, it is unknow what has become of Teddy.
His faith, and that of his wife, is an important part of this book and Watson’s story – it is never far from his thoughts. It certainly helped him change the behavior that made him the person who would be the least likely to receive assistance from fellow golfers if he ran into trouble off the course. That isn’t the exact wording of what this informal poll revealed, but it is a illustration of how Watson acted on and off the course – and his explanations of how and why he was that way was adequate, but did not feel completely genuine.
Because of this vagueness, I felt this memoir lacked true reflection but Watson does come across as sincere and truly wanting to be a better person. For that, I given him credit for not only making his life better, but also for still playing well enough on the PGA tour to be a top-ranked player. He does talk about his golf, but not as much as his personal life. That is something that a reader should consider before deciding to pick up this book – it worked out fine, but it may not satisfy readers who want to read more about the game instead of the person.
I wish to thank Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
October 27, 2021
Thanks to my husband I have become more acquainted with professional golf and I'm pretty familiar with some of the more popular golfers. I enjoy watching the sport, so when I saw Bubba Watson's new book I was intrigued. Last spring, we had rewatched the 2012 Masters with his infamous wedge from the woods. That being said I am by far not an expert in the field and I enjoyed how you didn't have to be in order to enjoy this book.
I enjoyed being able to get to know Bubba better, learn more about his faith based life, how he suffers from anxiety and stress, to see how he has handled life's challenges and accepted where he messed up and was wrong. It's an inspirational book to help show that everyone makes mistakes, but it's what you do after those mistakes that matters. I will definitely be recommending this book to golf enthusiasts.
***Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book!
I enjoyed being able to get to know Bubba better, learn more about his faith based life, how he suffers from anxiety and stress, to see how he has handled life's challenges and accepted where he messed up and was wrong. It's an inspirational book to help show that everyone makes mistakes, but it's what you do after those mistakes that matters. I will definitely be recommending this book to golf enthusiasts.
***Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book!
January 1, 2022
Interesting account of Bubba's life. He seems like a pretty normal guy and has grown up a lot since his early days on tour where he was often considered a self-centered jerk. As part of his growing maturity he explains how he discovered what he was doing wrong and sought help in how to make things right. And then actually behaving differently (e.g., when he was left off the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup team instead of getting angry, he volunteered to help the coaches, winning him praise from fellow players and coaches for his selflessness). He also seems to have his priorities well in place - family, religion, friends, ahead of golf. And he's very engaged in his local communities. An unusually gifted golfer, he seems to be one of the few really good players that is mostly self taught.
February 16, 2022
Enjoyed this personal account of Bubba’s life and career.
All the memorable golf moments from his perspective = rad.
What did I learn?
- The human heart struggles to handle fame.
- There is value in having plain fun.
- Trying to please everyone is a lose-lose.
All the memorable golf moments from his perspective = rad.
What did I learn?
- The human heart struggles to handle fame.
- There is value in having plain fun.
- Trying to please everyone is a lose-lose.
November 26, 2021
The man, the myth, the legend. Good story that reveals what is behind the golf phenom. All around good person!
November 27, 2021
Loved his honesty. Great truthful read.
January 13, 2022
Easy and light read on Bubba Watsons life and golf career
January 17, 2022
I have always been indifferent about Bubba Watson based on some of his actions and how the media portrayed him. However, this book opened my eyes to him as a person. It’s a good book if you enjoy golf and are looking for a cool story about a talented athlete!
August 6, 2022
Kinda boring for me😴
December 15, 2021
A very personal account by the two time Masters Champion, Bubba from Baghdad. The book deals with the conflict the author experienced being a small town boy with limited education who rose to the level of an elite golfer and international sports celebrity.
Watson is very candid about his personal struggles. He was called down by his caddie for childish behavior on the golf course. Later he was voted by the PGA players as the fellow golfer they would be least likely to aid if they saw him in a parking lot brawl. Watson was benched by his college golf coach and later passed over by Davis Love III when selecting captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup team. In both cases he overcame embarrassment and jealousy to be a great teammate.
The book is co- written by a professional writer, but the ARC that I read is in need of editing. There are several grammatical errors and a lot of repetition. However, that is part of the charm of the book. It feels like sitting down with an old friend and talking about life. It is more stream of consciousness than a detailed and chronological autobiography.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Watson is very candid about his personal struggles. He was called down by his caddie for childish behavior on the golf course. Later he was voted by the PGA players as the fellow golfer they would be least likely to aid if they saw him in a parking lot brawl. Watson was benched by his college golf coach and later passed over by Davis Love III when selecting captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup team. In both cases he overcame embarrassment and jealousy to be a great teammate.
The book is co- written by a professional writer, but the ARC that I read is in need of editing. There are several grammatical errors and a lot of repetition. However, that is part of the charm of the book. It feels like sitting down with an old friend and talking about life. It is more stream of consciousness than a detailed and chronological autobiography.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2023
I didn’t know much about Bubba Watson before reading this book other than that he was a pro golfer and he’d won at least one Master’s. but these are some of my favorite kinds of books and this one didn’t disappoint. bubba and his co-author did a great job sharing about his life and journey. specifically, I was intrigued by the role that his faith played in his rise to stardom. it was an encouraging story to hear him talk about the difficulties, ups and downs along the way. from meeting his wife to adopting kids to navigating through scrutiny in the public eye as he struggled with containing his emotions on the golf course, Watson is a man of faith and his story is a captivating one. if you’re someone who is into golf, I definitely recommend. :)
November 13, 2021
Bubba has always been one of my favourite golfers so I was excited to read the book as soon as it came out. I thought from the description it would have had a lot more about his struggles and what he was feeling during those times. There is also a couple weird spots in the book where he repeats the same thing almost word for word on earlier pages. The book also didn’t seem to have a lot after 2016 which is odd considering it was just written in 2020.
January 2, 2022
Really enjoyed this book. Thank you Bubba for sharing your story. I like how you made your experience so relatable. I enjoy golf as my away from work oasis and heard you on today show and told my wife I wanted your book. Not a big reader but so glad I read it. Anxiety is real and trying to be perfect all the time is not reality. Becoming a father not long ago helped reteach me that. It’s okay not to be okay. Great reminders and lessons. Always learning.
January 11, 2022
I like Bubba Watson less after reading this book. It’s so poorly written, and really, that’s not his fault, he’s not a writer, it’s his editors and publishers. It’s some how so repetitive and also confusing as to when things are happening at the same time. If you don’t like hearing cocky, entitled people talk about how humble and godly they are I would skip this book.
January 20, 2022
Bubba is one of my favorite golfers. He has lead a very interesting life and has made some equally interesting choices therein. This book is great for getting to know Bubba. I did not glean any truly meaningful insights on life or have any “ah-ha!” moments from it. However, I enjoyed its simplicity and brevity.
April 20, 2022
The book definitely reads like Bubba wrote it. You get a great sense of tone from the book. Bubba goes through his childhood, golfing career and family life. His story is very unique. The only place the book falls short is that it lacks depth and substance. Overall it’s a great read into one of the most prolific “feel golfers” his journey onto the PGA Tour and in life is very unique.
June 25, 2024
I’m a huge golf fan and have carried with me that perspective of Bubba Watson, both from a golf and a life standpoint.
To read his words and experience his vulnerability sheds new light on the battles he has fought.
I won’t say I disliked Bubba before reading this book, but I have a new respect for the man and the golfer having done so.
To read his words and experience his vulnerability sheds new light on the battles he has fought.
I won’t say I disliked Bubba before reading this book, but I have a new respect for the man and the golfer having done so.
April 2, 2025
Nice simple read about Bubba growing up with his family and on the golf course.
Great read for someone struggling with self reflection.
One thing I noticed is that he tends to repeat himself throughout the book. You hear the same events repeated in another chapter. Good reminders, but not necessary.
Great read for someone struggling with self reflection.
One thing I noticed is that he tends to repeat himself throughout the book. You hear the same events repeated in another chapter. Good reminders, but not necessary.
April 2, 2022
This was a great book, that gave a lot of insight to Bubba’s struggles, and accomplishments, throughout his career and life so far. I knew he’s a Christian, and the book could get a bit Jesus-y at times, however it didn’t make the book less enjoyable.
January 7, 2022
In classic Bubba fashion he was all over the place at times and repeated similar stories multiple times but his honesty and vulnerability keep you engaged to the very end.
December 4, 2021
Bubba Watson, golfer, husband, father. As much as he didn't want this to be a book about golf, it mostly is. I enjoyed the book and enjoyed learning about how he came to play golf and how he got to be a two time Masters Champion. As a golf fan I enjoyed hearing his play by play of those matches and I enjoyed understanding how he overcame the anxiety in his life. I also loved his outspoken love of Jesus and how God is first in his life!
However, the book needed a good going over. There is a few different times where he tells part of a story and then in another chapter says the exact same thing again. It didn't seem like it added to the story to do that and I kept having to go back to see if it was a passage I had read before.
All in all, it is a good memoir and Bubba fans will love it. 3.5⭐
Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Publishing and Bubba Watson for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
However, the book needed a good going over. There is a few different times where he tells part of a story and then in another chapter says the exact same thing again. It didn't seem like it added to the story to do that and I kept having to go back to see if it was a passage I had read before.
All in all, it is a good memoir and Bubba fans will love it. 3.5⭐
Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson Publishing and Bubba Watson for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 1, 2023
Picked this up because Bubba has always been fascinating to me. He could go from so like-able and relatable to what seems like an absolute buffoon in seconds. I’m glad I did, and while he’s still definitely a unique personality, it shines a light on who he is and what he’s trying to be - and is a reminder that all of us have our “stuff”, and how hard it must be to live passionately and authentically with all the lights on you. Fun, quick, and relatable read for me.
January 29, 2022
I can picture Bubba crying as he wrote this.
July 4, 2023
I wish Bubba Watson would've done the audio for this book, but maybe he didn't because of some reading struggles? At any rate, good read about this golfer.
July 14, 2023
Great message, the ups and downs of life and how he handled it. I really enjoyed his message and learning more about him.
January 4, 2024
Always been a fan of Bubba Watson, and to finally hear his story made me much more of a fan. Great read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews