Tiger Woods pleased Tom Watson will return as Ryder Cup captain

Tom Watson, who captained the U.S. to a Ryder Cup victory the last time the U.S. won in Europe in 1993, will return as captain for the 2014 team. And he has an important supporter in his corner: Tiger Woods.

“I’d like to congratulate Tom Watson on his selection as Ryder Cup captain,” Woods said in a statement. “I think he’s a really good choice. Tom knows what it takes to win, and that’s our ultimate goal. I hope I have the privilege of joining him on the 2014 United States Team.”

The Americans have lost seven of the last nine Ryder Cups.

“We’ve got the right guy to lead our team,” PGA of America president Ted Bishop said.

Watson will be 65 when the 2014 Ryder Cup is played at Gleneagles in Scotland, making him the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history. Sam Snead was 57 when he was captain in 1969, and the oldest European captain was John Jacobs (56) in 1981.

“I was waiting for about 20 years to get the call,” Watson said Thursday. “I loved it the first time. I’m a great fan of the Ryder Cup. It’s a great honor to be able to do it again.”

Watson is the first repeat captain for the U.S. team since Jack Nicklaus in 1987, when the Ryder Cup was played on his home course of Muirfield Village in Ohio. Watson, one of the most respected figures in golf worldwide, becomes the seventh U.S. captain to get more than one shot.

As for the pressure of bringing back the Ryder Cup?

“I’ve lived for that pressure, and lived underneath that pressure all my career,” Watson said. “I hope I can set the table for these players. I’m the stage manager. I set the stage and they go out and perform. In two years, I hope they can get it done.”

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.