East Lake, Atlanta, GA … Jordan Spieth insists he’s playing the part of ‘Papa Bear’ in calling on Bubba Watson be left alone to concentrate on securing the final USA Ryder Cup team pick.

Davis Love 111 gathered eight of his USA team at Hazeltine on Sunday and Monday along with probable ‘wildcard’ picks Daniel Berger, Jim Furyk, Justin Thomas and Watson.

Watson’s hope of a fourth straight USA Team cap now hinges on an eye-catching effort in this week’s season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.

Jordan Spieth to act as Bubba Watson’s ‘papa bear’ this week at the Tour Championship.

But while Spieth will be focused on defending this week’s Tour Championship he gave an insight of his feelings for Watson.

“I couldn’t imagine being in Bubba’s position, wondering why at 7 in the world he didn’t get picked,” said Spieth.

“So it’s an awkward position to be in. What do I sense from him? Well, we played a wolf game and on 18, he drove it down the fairway, and he went lone. He didn’t pick anybody. And he hit it up there, and three guys — I was the only one who wasn’t inside his putt for birdie. Three other guys were. So he was at an extreme disadvantage, and he banged it in the back of the hole, won the hole. The next three missed, and he took home the money. He was screaming about it on the 18th green, you know. He made the putt that — so he was in great spirits.

Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watston at the 2015 Masters presentation ceremony.

“We had a great time. I just told him, when I saw him today, Man, yesterday was a lot of fun. You don’t get to play those types of games that you play at home with the best players in the world. I mean, you play like little matches here and there, but you don’t get to play like a wolf game or something like that. I love that.

“We had a great time with it. He didn’t seem upset about anything. He didn’t seem like he was entitled to any position or any advantage over anybody else. I think he really feels like he needs to go do his job this week. The more he’s questioned about it, the more potential for that to bother him, which I hope he’s not pestered with it all week.

“I hope he’s freed up. I’m not going to ask you guys how to do your job, but I think it helps all of those out for our team. So I’m taking the papa bear, even though they’re all older than me, position of I hope that they’re freed up just to play their game this week and to bring out whatever they can and their best to have a chance to make that team.”

Davis Love 111 will announce his fourth and final ‘wildcard’ pick bizarrely at half-time in Sunday Nights NFL football showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears in Texas.