Tom Watson was named the captain of the 2014 U.S. Ryder Cup team on Thursday with the hopes of ending two decades of defeats in Europe.

Watson will become the oldest to hold the position when the matches are played at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Sam Snead was 57 when he was captain in 1969, and the oldest European captain was John Jacobs (56) in 1981.

The 63-year-old is an eight-time major winner who won four of his five Open Championships in Scotland. He will captain the team for the second time, 21 years after a 1993 U.S. win at the Belfry in England. That was the last time the Americans won overseas.

Watson is the first repeat captain for the U.S. team since Jack Nicklaus in 1987.

''I'd like to congratulate Tom Watson on his selection as Ryder Cup captain,'' Tiger 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.''

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