CHASKA, Minn. – Davis Love III said it was an “incredible gesture.”

The U.S. Ryder Cup captain had just called Bubba Watson to tell him – for the second time in two weeks – that he was not picking the No. 7 player in the world to play on his team.

The first time was after the BMW Championship when Love had three picks to make. The second came Sunday when Love decided to pick TOUR Championship runner-up Ryan Moore to complete his team.

“He immediately said, ‘I still want to be a part of this team, if you'll have me,’” Love said. “When I told the team members and assistant captains that were there (Sunday) night, we're still in disbelief. …



“We have a lot of emotion over Arnold Palmer, a lot of emotion over a last-minute pick, but what Bubba did really shows how together the U.S. Team really is.”

Love said Watson brings a different personality and a “great heart” to the team. As the Americans headed out to practice on a brisk Tuesday morning, Watson was there at the first tee, cheering just like the fans huddled together in the bleachers.



“He might could cry a little bit more than me, but I'll probably out-do him this week,” Love said with a smile. “Bubba and I are always in a contest for who gets teared up the most or first.

“We're just thrilled to have him. It's going to be a lot of fun.”

Watson actually had offered his services as an assistant captain prior to the TOUR Championship and reiterated that desire in interviews several times at East Lake last week.

“I want to be a part of the team no matter what,” Watson told the media more than once when questioned about the one remaining captain’s pick. “There's going to be one year, hopefully before I pass away, that we actually win, and I want to be a part of it.’

The Americans were impressed by his passion and commitment..

“I think what Bubba Watson did in reaction speaks a lot to his character that he doesn't get a lot of credit for,” Jordan Spieth said. “… Bubba wondered why (he didn’t get picked), as anybody would, and then soon thereafter said, Okay, is there any way that I can be a part of this team and help this team out? Any way?

“I don't care if I'm there to go get guys waters and I'm not a part of any of the team meetings; I don't care if I'm just there as a fan; I don't care if I'm an assistant captain. Is there anything I can do to help this team out to have a better chance to win?”



Rickie Fowler, himself a captain’s pick, is one of Watson’s best friends. He knows the two-time Masters champion would rather be playing but Fowler sees him “already soaking in the vice captain position,” learning some of what he needs to maybe lead his own team down the road.

“It was really cool of him to make that decision to fly up here and be a part of the team this week after not getting picked,” Fowler said. “But he knew, all of us knew, guys that didn't make it on points, that it's out of our hands. There's nothing that we can really do other than make more birdies possibly. But picks are picks, and you look, it's not always nine, 10, 11, 12 that are picked.