NEW YORK — Tom Watson was named Thursday as the United States captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland, a move the Americans hope will end their run of losses in the biennial match against Europe. Watson succeeded 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 British Opens, 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. “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 honor 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 Thursday. In recent years, the US has picked a new captain for each Ryder Cup but the 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 threw away a commanding four-point lead heading into the final day, which became known as the meltdown at Medinah. — Reuters
