TOM WATSON CONFIRMED AS US RYDER CUP CAPTAIN FOR GLENEAGLES 2014

FROM EUROSPORT (Reuters)

Tom Watson has been named United States team captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, a move the Americans hope will end their run of losses in the biennial match against Europe.

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  Eurosport - Tom Watson

Watson succeeds Davis Love III as the American captain for the next edition of the biennial golf match between the US and Europe and received an instant stamp of approval from Tiger Woods.

A winner of eight Majors, including five Open Championships, the 63-year-old Watson joined a select group to lead the US team more than once and will become the oldest American captain in the event's history.
He will turn 65 in early September 2014, with the tournament scheduled for the 26-28th of that month.
"I was waiting 20 years to get the call again. I loved it the first time," said Watson, who led the US to victory in 1993, the last time the Americans won the Ryder Cup away from home.
"I've been a great fan of the Ryder Cup, always been watching, I get the same gut feeling just watching it at home on TV. It's a great honour to do it again and this time it is going to be 14 and a half points."
In a break from tradition, the PGA of America made Thursday's announcement on national breakfast television, the NBC's Today show.
Watson appeared live on the show and was scheduled to hold a news conference near the top of the Empire State Building later today.
In recent years, the US has picked a new captain for each Ryder Cup but the US PGA said it wanted to try something different after losing seven of the last nine Ryder Cups.
The most recent was just over two months ago in Chicago when the Americans lost a commanding four-point lead heading into the final day, which became known as the 'Meltdown at Medinah'.
Watson is the only man in the last 31 years to captain the US to victory in Europe.
"I've lived for that pressure, lived underneath that pressure all of my career and I just hope I can set the table for these players to go out," said Watson.
"I'm a stage manager, I set the stage for them and they go out and perform their act and in two years I hope that we can get it done."
Watson has been critical of Woods but the former world number one was among the first to applaud his appointment and declare his availability.
"I'd like to congratulate Tom Watson on his selection as Ryder Cup captain," Woods said.
"I think he's a really good choice. Tom knows what it takes to win, and that's our ultimate goal. I hope I have the privilege of joining him on the 2014 United States Team."
Watson played in four Ryder Cups - 1977, 1981, 1983, and 1989 - and lost a play-off for the 2009 Open at Turnberry at the age of 59.

EDITOR'S COMMENT: Was it all pre-arranged? Last Sunday (December 9), Tom Watson said in his post-tournament Press Conference at the Australian Open that he would not mind becoming US Ryder Cup team captain for a second time. Until that moment, he had not been quoted by anyone as a contender for the job at Gleneagles in 2014. Four days later, the PGA of America announce his appointment. Had Watson been approached before Sunday, which prompted his statement? Or did Watson's quote strike a chord with the PGA of America top brass and things escalated from there?