BY STEVE KEIPERT AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL GC

It's been a mixed start to the week for defending champion Bubba Watson.

Bubba Watson talks to the media on Tuesday about how he can improve as a man. PHOTO: Getty Images Bubba Watson talks to the media on Tuesday about how he can improve as a man. PHOTO: Getty Images

He's in fine form and feels more comfortable returning as the most recent winner after admitting to being overcome by the adulation when defending in 2013. Yet he's also been named in an ESPN anonymous poll of PGA Tour players, with 23 percent of the 103 players surveyed nominating the Masters champion in a question titled: "[Player name] is in a fight in the parking lot. I'm not helping him."

Such is the polarising nature of the two-time Masters champion. Kids love him, fans marvel at the magic he weaves, but he's repeatedly had issues with his peers that don't endear him to all.

Few defenders outside Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have been favoured to repeat as strongly as Watson. He is the bookies' third favourite, behind Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, and admits to feeling far more at ease with his surroundings and his commitments compared to the same situation two years ago.

"The media attention, the atmosphere; even a year later, you're excited about your win," Watson said. "Sometimes you get away from your routine or you just use your energy in a different way. That's what I did. I don't know about the other guys, but that's what I did.

"So this time I know what to expect. Doesn't mean I'm going to play better, just I know what to expect, I know how to save some energy. I know how things are going to happen in the Champions Dinner now. I know more. That doesn't mean it's going to help, it just means that I should be better prepared this time."

Commenting on the results of the ESPN poll, Watson was candid in his self-assessment and to his credit didn't brush it aside.

"I take it as I need to improve as a man. I take it with pride. I need to get better,” he said. “And I think over my career, since my rookie season to now, I've gotten better. But obviously there's more room for me to improve as a man ... It's a challenge. It's great. I'm glad that it came out and it's going to help me improve.

"So if it's a bad thing and people don't like me, then I've got to improve and prove them wrong."

Some overnight rain has soften the course, which will suit the likes of Watson. PHOTO: Getty Images Some overnight rain has soften the course, which will suit the likes of Watson. PHOTO: Getty Images

Where Watson needs little improvement is his game at Augusta National. It's the only venue where Watson has won twice and he agrees with the notion that left-handlers who can hit the ball high and from right to left have an advantage. With the tops of some of the trees along the right side of the 11th hole trimmed by ice storms in recent years, it leaves just the 1st, 7th and 18th as drives that don't fit his preferred shot shape.

"All of the other holes look good to my eye, set up well for me. The trees outline the fairway pretty good, so it's easy for me to envision the shot I want to hit," Watson said.

Overnight rain in Augusta has softened the course slightly and with further rain and storms forecast for the area, the longer hitters' strengths look to be accentuated.

Watson also announced his menu for tonight's Champions Dinner would echo what he served two years ago. He became emotional when explaining that his mother's home cooking inspired his menu choices then and would do so again tonight.