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• Bubba Watson hails expected Ryder Cup captain Love
• Likens the role to being inducted into the Hall of Fame
• Gets defence of Northern Trust Open title underway later today

BUBBA WATSON

Bubba Watson has praised the appointment of “great champion” Davis Love III as the next USA Ryder Cup captain and likened the role to being admitted into the Hall of Fame.

The 36-year-old, who begins the defence of his Northern Trust Open title today, has been in the past three USA teams and the current world No.4 looks set to be a front-runner for a team slot at Hazeltine in 2016.

Speaking about Love, who is expected to be officially announced as the USA’s captain next week, Bubba Watson said: “I think it’s great. He’s a great champion. When you look at the Ryder Cup captaincy, what I’ve always seen growing up is that it was an honour, a privilege. you had a great career. Basically like the Hall of Fame because getting in there means you had a great career.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of competing at a high level again” – Bubba Watson

“Davis Love is not going to give me any swing tips that’s going to make me better. If I make putts, I make a point for him; if not, I’m probably not going to make a point. Or if I make nine birdies and the other team beats me like at the Ryder Cup last year; me and Matt Kuchar played unbelievably and got drilled.

“So when you look at it that way, the Ryder Cup captaincy should be about his honour of his career and what he means to the game of golf, and that’s where Davis Love obviously shows that tremendously.”

The Masters - Final Round

Bubba Watson’s win at Riviera Country Club this time last year paved the way for his second Masters title last April, and the American, who has only played twice so far in 2015, is looking forward to getting in the thick of things again.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of competing at a high level again and I feel refreshed and excited to be here. I’ve taken two weeks off, trying to save energy and focus by changing my schedule around and stretching my gaps of weeks off,” said Bubba Watson.

“It seems like Doral is my key. I’m going to have a good shot there because every time I’ve won the Masters, I’ve finished second at Doral. So I hope I finish second there again this year!”

Watson gets the defence of his title underway at 12.02pm local time alongside fellow countrymen Bill Haas and Dustin Johnson.

Bubba Watson in 2015 :: Your thoughts

The American is coming off the back of a successful 2014, but can he repeat that this year? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below

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