PARAMUS, N.J. -- Bubba Watson apologized on Tuesday at the Barclays for a series of gaffes he made two weeks ago during the PGA Championship.

"You've got to learn from your mistakes," said the two-time Masters champion. "You learn from being selfish instead of looking at the bigger picture in life. Obviously, I've made some mistakes, and I'm going to make more mistakes as the years go on, and hopefully, if that's my worst mistake, then I'm doing all right.

"So the guys that wrote articles and my friends that called me out, friends that sent me different quotes, obviously, I look up to them and say thank you, because that's how I'm going to get better. That's how I'm going to get better as a man, better as a husband, better as a dad and, last but not least, better as a golfer."

Watson admitted that it was a mistake not to compete in the long-drive contest, once a pre-tournament staple at the PGA that was restored this year. Watson, 35, complained that the long drive interfered with his practice, despite the fact that he annually plays in the Par 3 tournament at the Masters.

"When you look at just me as an individual, that was the selfish part, because I didn't agree with it, but there's a lot of things that I don't agree with that I do," Watson said.

Watson also apologized for complaining aloud during the second round at Valhalla about water on his driver face.

"It's all childish stuff and trying to mature and become a better man," he said. "Obviously, I take it on the chin. It was my fault. Everything's my fault, and I should be bigger and stronger and better than that."