JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Bubba Watson’s big adventure to Paris wasn’t a complete disaster.

He was there long enough to take photos of that big tower (Eiffel). He rode around in a circle at some archway (Arc de Triomphe). He stayed in a beautiful hotel next to a castle (Versailles). And he gave the tabloids plenty to write about.

Too bad it wasn’t about his golf.

Watson lasted only two days at the French Open, missing the cut with rounds of 74-74. He said there were too many cameras, too many phones, too much of everything except ropes and security.

“It’s not a normal tournament,” he said.

Watson, who after one day at the French Open said this would be his last time playing in Europe, clarified his remarks upon missing the cut by saying he would be at the British Open next week, but only because it’s a major. Then he said he would spend another day of sightseeing (maybe he meant that museum that starts with an “L”) and get home “as fast as possible.”

He might have done the Americans a favor. This next generation of U.S. golfers is showing signs of being more willing to travel the world. Watson at least served up an example of what not to do.

It sure got the attention of his peers on the PGA Tour.

Saturday morning on the practice range at Aronimink, the chatter was endless about Bubba’s behavior in France. The words “ugly American” came up on more than one occasion, accompanied by a lot of head shaking.

Stuart Appleby famously said a decade ago, back when the World Golf Championships were actually played around the world, that “Americans are like a bag of prawns on a hot Sunday. They don’t travel well.”

The Australian couldn’t resist weighing in on Twitter.

“Rumour has it that Bubba Watson has had surgery to mouth to make it smaller so foot won’t fit with as much ease, hope it’s successful ???” came the first tweet from Appleby. That was followed by, “I’m not perfect all the time, but is not acceptable to come to another tour and more than once show a lack of respect.”

Watson gets the message.

He lost an opportunity to experience a great city, a different culture, and to bring his game to a growing fan base. He let it turn into a working vacation that felt like too much work. These things happen. If this is all Watson is known for at the end of his career, he will not have had much of a career. The hunch is this will be forgotten before long (unless he makes the 2018 Ryder Cup in France).

Not long after he returned home, Watson was busy apologizing on Twitter to more than 150,000 followers.