Notes: One winning Watson (Tom) has high praise for another (Bubba)

That other Watson to win at Augusta National -- Tom Watson -- heard something on the eve of the Masters that impressed him about Bubba Watson. It was the sound of the ball coming off his wedge.

"I practiced my chipping on Wednesday and he came up. We were 10 feet from each other, and I noticed every chip shot he hit was absolutely, dead solid perfect," Watson said. "I mean, dead solid. In my ear, you can hear it."

The eight-time major champion said Bubba Watson had a "swing for the ages," though he would not call it a classic golf swing.

"The purpose of the golf game is to get results," Watson said. "My dad always said, `Beware of the guy who comes out on the first tee and he's got a terrible grip and a terrible golf swing. If he's in that tournament with you, there's a good chance he knows how to play with that type swing.'

"And Bubba is that type of person."

HANSON STATUS: Unless he wins on the PGA Tour, Peter Hanson will have to sit out the FedExCup playoffs this year because he is not a member. But he can bank on a full tour card for next year.

Even though he closed with a 73 and tied for third at the Masters, the Swede earned $384,000. That pushed his earnings for the year to just over $1 million, assuring that he will be at least the equivalent of No. 125 on the money list.

Hanson is at No. 24 in the world ranking.

CLARKE MARRIES: Darren Clarke found reason to celebrate this year, at least off the golf course.

Three days after the Masters ended, the British Open champion married Alison Campbell in a private ceremony on the beach at Abaco in the Bahamas, where they have a home. Former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell introduced them in 2009, and the couple became engaged before Christmas.

The wedding party included Clarke's two sons, both sets of parents, agent Chubby Chandler and McDowell.

A short honeymoon was planned for Abaco. Clarke, who has missed the cut in four of his seven tournaments this year, gets back to work next week at the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea. His wife returns to Northern Ireland to run her model agency. 

DIVOTS: Hawaii has added another tournament on the Champions Tour. The Pacific Links Hawaii Championship will be played Sept. 13-16 at Kapolei Golf Course on Oahu. That gives the Aloha State five events on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and Champions Tour. ... The Presidents Cup raised $4.5 million for charity, which will be distributed to organizations selected by the 30 players, captains and assistant captains. The PGA Tour said more than $27 million has been generated for charity since the event began in 1994. ... Ping decided to increase its contribution from the sale of 5,000 pink G20 drivers to $50 per club, ensuring a $250,000 donation toward Bubba Watson's goal of raising $1 million for charity in 2012. ... There already have been 22 aces in 17 events on the PGA Tour. A year ago, there were 23 all season.

STAT OF THE WEEK: Since winning the U.S. Open last year by eight shots, Rory McIlroy has finished a combined 46 shots out of the lead at his next three majors.

FINAL WORD: "His golf game and his golf swing looks pretty similar to what I've been looking at. And he hits a lot of great shots. But you never know what's going on in somebody's head." -- Jack Nicklaus on Tiger Woods.