Watson named US vice-captain

US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love has appointed Bubba Watson as his fifth vice-captain, Press Association Sport understands.

Two-time Masters champion Watson was overlooked for a wild card despite being ranked seventh in the world, but had made it clear to Love that he still wanted to be involved at Hazeltine this week.

“Two days after (the first wild cards), I said if you pick (Jim) Furyk and you can have another assistant captain, I want in,” Watson said during the Tour Championship. “I just want to be a part of it. “The experience of it, the atmosphere, everything about it is what golf is. It’s just so much fun. Even though we’re trying to beat the other team, we’re all friends at the end of it. Sunday night we all hang out, no matter who wins or loses.”

Meanwhile Love named Ryan Moore as his final Ryder Cup wild card on Sunday, three hours after the player lost in a play-off for the Tour Championship.

Moore had been considered an outsider for the wild card until his performance in Atlanta, when he carded a closing 64 to get into a play-off with Rory McIlroy and Kevin Chappell, who was eliminated at the first extra hole.

McIlroy eventually sealed the win and overall FedEx Cup title with a birdie at the fourth hole of sudden death, but Moore’s performance was enough to seal his place at Hazeltine, even though he had turned down an invitation from Love to practise at the venue on Monday.

Eight players qualified for the team automatically, with Love then naming Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar and JB Holmes as his first three wild cards on September 12.

Moore won the US Amateur title in 2004 and has represented the United States in the Walker Cup, Palmer Cup and the World Amateur Team Championship.

Ryan Moore was Davis Love’s final wild card choice on Sunday.