Tom Watson appointed 2014 US Ryder Cup captain

Golfing legend Tom Watson will become the oldest captain in Ryder Cup hisory when he leads the United States at Gleneagles in 2014

Tom Watson

Tom Watson has been appointed as the US Ryder Cup captain for the 2014 matches at Gleneagles and will become the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history.

The 63-year-old eight-time major champion has been selected by the PGA of America to bring an end to Europe's dominance of the event.

"I was waiting about 20 years to get the call," he told NBC television. "It's a great honour to do it again.

"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. I hope that we can get it done."

Watson competed in four Ryder Cups as a player - in 1977, 1981, 1983 and 1989 - and captained the US side at the Belfry in 1993 - the last time the Americans won on European soil.

He will be 65 when the 40th Ryder Cup takes place at Gleneagles' Kings Course, from September 26-28 2014.

The previous oldest captain was John Henry Taylor, who captained Great Britain at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club in 1933 aged 62.

Colin Montgomerie has backed the move to appoint Watson as US Captain.

"If you keep on doing the same thing, you get the same results so I think America has been very wise in choosing Tom Watson here," he said.

"America were shocked at Medinah, there's no question. So they've gone with someone who is the last person to win the Ryder Cup in Europe.

"He'll be very, very favoured here in Scotland when he does come back to Gleneagles. He was well respected in 1993 but he's even more so now."

Bernard Gallacher, speaking to Sky Sports, labelled the appointment of Watson as 'clever', and feels the revered veteran will be able to get the most out of Tiger Woods.

"We haven't seen the best out of him in the Ryder Cup, but he's still the second best player in the world, and Tom will face straight up to him and won't be intimidated. Tiger will know that - I think Tom will get the best out of Woods."

Woods has also backed the PGA of America's decision.

"I think he's a really good choice and I'd like to congratulate him," said Woods.

"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."

 

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x