East Lake, Atlanta, GA … Jordan Spieth’s job as Bubba Watson’s ‘papa bear’ has failed.

It took just two questions before Watson was quizzed on the Ryder Cup after the double Masters champion posted a level par 72 on the opening day of the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta.

Indeed the remaining nine of 10 questions directed to Bubba were about his hopes of being afforded a ‘wildcard’ pick on Sunday night.

Bubba pleads with Davis Love to pick him as an Assistant Captain if he’s overlooked for the 4th wildcard pick.

But it seems Bubba is just as much in the dark about who Love 111 will pick as the entire golf world.

“Yeah, it’s easy to block it. There’s nothing I can do now. Davis said it’s all about strategies and different things. It’s not about my play. It’s not about anybody’s play. So I can’t worry about that. And the golf course is so tough, I’ve got to worry about this golf course,” said Watson.

“The only thing I know that Davis told me — and he’s told everybody — is that it’s about who matches up well. I don’t know what that means. I don’t know if it’s about partners. If a guy matches up better with two people or a guy matches up better with three people. I don’t know that. I know the same as you know, except I got to see the course. I went and played a practice round. So I know a little bit more, I guess.”

However when quizzed further it became clear just how much Watson, who has now played on two losing USA teams, wants to be at Hazeltine.

“We all went there but there’s three of us that are looking for a pick,”said Watson.

“You know, talking to the other guys, talking to the guys that are already on the team. You know, we all want to be there. We all want to be a part of the team.

“Like I said in an interview yesterday, I want to be a part of the team. I sent him a text that said, Can I be assistant captain if you don’t pick me? So I put it out there. I want to be a part of the team no matter what.”