Raymond Floyd has been selected as a vice-captain for the United States team at the 40th Ryder Cup in September at Gleneagles Resort in Scotland, Captain Tom Watson announced.
The 71-year-old Floyd captured 22 titles on the PGA Tour, including four majors, and added 14 victories on the Champions Tour.
“What Raymond brings is experience and respect of the players,” Watson said in making the announcement at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, where the Northern Trust Open will be played this week. “When these players look at Raymond, they know he’s been there, they know he’s been successful.
“You look at Raymond’s eyes, you never saw his eyes waver. … His eyes had a focus you like to see and the way he played the game, every shot counted, and that’s the type of guy I wanted taking care of my back.”
Floyd played on eight Ryder Cup teams, posting a 12-16-3 record, and was captain of the 1989 U.S. side, which played to a 14-14 tie at the Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England, with Europe retaining the Cup because it had won in 1987.
Floyd, who was the oldest Ryder Cup player in history at 51 in 1993, joins Andy North, the two-time U.S. Open champion, who was selected by Watson as a vice-captain last July.
“I’m flattered, obviously, and it’s going to be a thrill for me to be back,” said Floyd, who was a vice-captain for Paul Azinger when the Americans captured the Ryder Cup, 16-11, in 2008 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
“Our responsibilities are to see that (the players) are comfortable, (and) if there are any questions, they have to be comfortable coming to us.”
The U.S. leads the biennial series, 25-12-2, but the Euros have won five of the last six matches and seven of the last nine.
Two years ago at Medinah outside of Chicago, the Americans held a commanding 10-6 lead heading into Sunday singles, but the Euros rallied to win, 14 1/2-13 1/2.
The U.S. last won on European soil in 1993 at the Belfry, 15-13, with Watson as captain.
