RIO DE JANEIRO -- Bubba Watson so often is his own worst enemy. He fidgets and frets, to his own detriment. For a man so gifted at swinging a golf club, it can be maddeningly frustrating.This week, Bubba is own best friend.He has embraced the Olympic golf experience unlike just about anyone else in the mens field. Instead of bemoaning how it would impact his schedule in a crowded golf year, he never wavered on his desire to be in Rio.And he has taken advantage of being at the Olympic Games in a way that is refreshing, trying to attend as many sporting events as possible, meeting other athletes, posing for photos, posting frequently on social media.Even when Watson played relatively poorly in an opening-round 73 at the Olympic Golf Course, he remained upbeat.And now, after a third-round 67 that has him in a tie for fourth and just 3 shots out of a place on the podium, he has a chance to earn an Olympic medal.Its absolutely amazing, Watson said. What a privilege and honor that golf is in the Olympics and to be a part of this. Right or wrong, its hard for me to focus on golf because of the fact that its just a dream of a lifetime to be associated with these great athletes.Perhaps Bubba is onto something. He has played steadily better each day, overcame a bizarre stubbed putt on the 14th green, signed his card and couldnt wait to get back and watch ... badminton.Playing for gold on Sunday will enter his mind that morning.Itll take another strong effort, but the way Watson has improved each day while reveling in the experience has been something to behold.For instance:We went to fencing first, Watson said in explaining how he has taken in the various Olympic events. It was Russia against Estonia womens for (the) bronze medal. We didnt know. We just had tickets and we went and thats what was happening. And fencing was unbelievable.I always talked about learning how to fence, and so going to it was special. It was amazing watching these girls Im going to say girls, Im going to say Im older than them. These girls, the athleticism to move around it, was just amazing. And they were screaming and hollering and I guess I would, too, if I won a bronze. It was amazing.That is just one example. Watson is like a kid in his Pensacola, Fla., candy store (Bubbas Sweet Spot), taking in the sights and sounds, watching the other athletes, getting to know who they are and appreciating what they have accomplished and what it means for them to be here.He has been inquisitive, gotten involved, figuring maybe something will rub off.Just like any athlete, you ask questions and you learn from them, he said. At dinner, we are asking how they train and what they do and how they prepare and what strategies they take in their event.Thats what Im taking in this week is just how amazing this is to be able to see sports that weve never seen, and golf just gets to tag along and say were athletes now.Maybe that has rubbed off on his golf. Maybe Watson got a reality check by coming to Rio and realizing that hes got it pretty good, playing for millions of dollars every week, getting to travel on private jets, staying in five-star hotels.That is not the reality for most Olympic athletes, certainly not the ones who toil in obscurity and aspire for greatness in sports that get little attention or publicity.Watson has been known to think too much, complain too much. He gets frustrated when a golf course doesnt fit his eye, and lets it affect his play. At times, he mopes. Here, it seems, nothing can bother him.A couple of back-nine bogeys put a damper on what was shaping up to be a great third round Saturday. One included a strange incident where mud dropped off the bottom of his putter in mid-stroke, distracting him. He tried to stop, and ended up hitting the ball only 6 feet -- when he was 35 feet from the hole. It was one of those freak things, he said. Thatll be talked about for years.But Bubba persevered.Even with all the stuff going on this week, even if youre sitting in your room watching the other events on TV, youre so focused on what an unbelievable experience this, youre not going to focus on golf that much off the course, Watson said. When you come back tomorrow, youll start thinking about it. But when youre at your house or around eating in the cafeteria, theres definitely no thoughts going through my head.That strategy might not play at Augusta National or St. Andrews or even in a few weeks at The Barclays or the Tour Championship. And it certainly wont be a good idea at the Ryder Cup, where time constraints all but negate any ability to relax and enjoy.Watson acknowledged that at a tournament like the Masters, he grinds. The golf course is so difficult, it requires that kind of concentration. And yet, there is something to consider going forward.This is a dream of a lifetime, golf just gets in my way, he said. Im taking it all in and learning. It shows how lucky and blessed golfers are. Its my profession and income and its beyond belief. We should never be disgruntled about anything that happens in our life.Who would have thought Bubba Watson would become such a great ambassador for golf in the Olympics? http://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Bradley-Pinion-Jersey/ . Its 1987 and a Brazilian playmaker, known as Mirandinha, is being paraded around St James Park to the passionate Newcastle fans. http://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Trent-Brown-Jersey/ . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. http://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Matt-Breida-Jersey/ . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. http://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Laken-Tomlinson-Jersey/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. http://www.49ersrookiestore.com/49ers-Brandon-Fusco-Jersey/ . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. The eight-man officiating crew that botched the end of the Central Michigan-Oklahoma State game has been suspended for two games, the Mid-American Conference announced Sunday.And the Big 12 announced that the two-person video replay crew that worked the game also has been suspended for two games. In addition, the replay crew will be prohibited from working postseason games this season.The crew missed an opportunity to advise the MAC officiating crew of the misapplication of the penalty giving CMU an untimed down that resulted in its game-winning touchdown, Big 12 coordinator of officials Walt Anderson said in a statement. NCAA rules permit instant replay to correct egregious errors and it is unacceptable that it did not occur in this situation.Officials mistakenly gave Central Michigan (2-0) an untimed final play from midfield after Oklahoma State (1-1) was penalized for intentionaal grounding while trying to run off the last four seconds of the fourth quarter with a three-point lead.ddddddddddddn that play, the Chippewas scored a touchdown on a long pass and lateral to win 30-27. The referee admitted afterward that an error was made by extending the game after a loss-of-down penalty.After a thorough review and evaluation of the entire Central Michigan at Oklahoma State contest, we have decided to suspend the officiating crew for the next two consecutive weeks, Bill Carollo, national coordinator of college football officials, said in statement released by the MAC.Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder voiced his protest, but the result of the game was final.---Online: AP College Football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org/ NFL Jerseys Cheap Black China NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Hoodies Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Authentic Jerseys China Jerseys Wholesale Cheap Jerseys 2019 Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Wholesale NFL Autographed Jerseys Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys Wholesale NFL T-shirts Cheap Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping China Jerseys Cheap ' ' '