Bubba Watson named as Ryder Cup assistant

• Not worthy of a pick but Watson will be at Hazeltine
• World No.7 named as fifth vice-captain by DL3
• “He has offered a couple of times to and be one of our assistants”

Bubba Watson WILL be part of the American team at this week’s Ryder Cup at Hazletine after all – as one of Davis Love III’s assistant captain.

Two-time Masters champion Watson, 37, was surprisingly overlooked for one of Love’s four wild cards. That was in spite of being the world No.7, the third highest American on the OWGR and after an impressive weekend at last week’s Tour Championship, where he carded rounds of 66 and 67 to finish in a tie for tenth at the PGA Tour season-ender.

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It was Watson fourth top ten of a season in which he also won the Northern Trust Open and Hero World Challenge, was second in the WGC-Cadillac Championship and missed only one cut.

Despite all that, Love opted to give the final spot on his team to Tour Championship runner-up – and world No.31 – Ryan Moore.

However, in a shock twist, the US captain last night named Watson as his fifth assistant for the match, alongside Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk, Tom Lehman and Steve Stricker.

CONTINUES BELOW…

Love, pictured above, explained: “ obviously disappointed not to be on the team but, as our team has really bonded together over the last couple months, Bubba has offered a couple times to come and be one of our assistant captains, and I told him we had an extra red cart and we’d love to have him. So, he’s back at the hotel trying to get his clothes fit and get ready for assistant captain duties.”

He continued: “When we started talking about this year’s Ryder Cup, we felt like we needed experience with our assistant captains,” explained Love. “We needed some former captain experience and some possible future captain experience.

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“Obviously, Bubba rounds that out: major championship experience, Ryder Cup experience, on our side. We’ve got a great mix of guys that think differently.”

The move caught many people by surprise, not least because it was Watson’s perceived lack of popularity amongst his peers that reportedly contributed to him missing out on a place in the team.

Bubba = good at golf, questionable personality.

US team tells him to leave the clubs at home, and just bring in the personality. Fantastic.

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) September 26, 2016

None of that, however, will be of any concern to Watson, who, judging by Twitter, just seems happy to be involved in what will be his fourth Ryder Cup.

Honored to be vice captain for @Love3d & Team USA!! #RyderCup

— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) September 26, 2016

He has also wasted no time in locating his wheels for the week, too…

Be driving this all week!! #RyderCup #GoUSA pic.twitter.com/18esQfaJ2v

— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) September 26, 2016

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Bubba Watson as a Vice-Captain: Your thoughts

What do you make of the news that Bubba Watson has been named as an assistant rather than a player on the US team for this week’s Ryder Cup? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor