Outside of Watson, the round of the day belonged to Dutchman Joost Luiten (67) with Stewart Cink (68) also posting a low number among the early starters.
Fifty-six-year old, two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer and Rory McIlroy shot 69s to tie for eighth at level par, while reigning Hong Kong Open title holder Miguel Angel Jiménez was around in 70 to claim fourth on his own, a week ahead of his Champions Tour debut.
Langer, Jiménez and Fred Couples may have flown the veteran’s flag with pride during the week week but the most unassuming performance must surely go to Sweden’s Jonas Blixt, who was trying to "Do an Adam" by becoming the first player from his country to win the first major of the year.
Blixt was making his Masters debut and just his third start in a major but has already shown his class by finishing tied fourth at last year’s US PGA Championship. His four sub-par rounds, only the second debutant in history to achieve the feat behind 1979 champion Fuzzy Zoeller, allowed him to tie Spieth for second at five-under as he grimly kept in touch on the final day.
"Anytime you shoot under-par at Augusta National on a Sunday, you should be pretty happy," said Blixt, "Bubba Watson played better. I got beat and he deserves to win."
No argument there. Watson admitted he "kind of lucked into" the first win but this one he earned, one he got to savour with wife Angie and son Caleb on hand this time behind the final green.
Between his 2012 win and the return to the winner’s circle in Los Angeles earlier this year, Watson never really fell too far, never lower than 30th in the world rankings, but his appearance on leader boards were few and far between. Missing the Presidents Cup team last year definitely hurt too after being a staple of the past few American sides.
Now he’s back in a green jacket, has risen back to number four in the world, is a certainty for the Ryder Cup and has another run at cashing in on his talent as many thought would be his destiny two years ago.
"A guy named Bubba from a small town; born in Pensacola, raised in Bagdad [Florida], now has two green jackets," Watson said. "Why me?
"I play golf because I love it. I love the game. The game has brought me everything that I've ever owned in my life."
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