Ryder Cup: Davis Love III to captain United States in 2016

Davis Love III has won 20 times on the PGA Tour

Davis Love III has been named United States captain for the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine in Minnesota.

Love, 50, led the United States team beaten by a stunning Europe comeback in the 'Miracle of Medinah' of 2012.

"I am here with the same goal as in 2012 but not as the same captain," Love told a news conference on Tuesday.

Europe, who defeated the US 16½-11½ at Gleneagles to retain the cup last autumn, named Darren Clarke as skipper for 2016 last week.

The 2016 Ryder Cup takes place from 30 September to 2 October.

Love's first act as skipper was to appoint Tom Lehman as one of his four vice-captains.

Lehman, the 1996 Open champion, captained the United States in 2006 as Europe claimed an 18½-9½ win at the K Club.

"I am thrilled to be the Team USA Captain and represent our country as we work to win back the Ryder Cup," said Love.

"It is a great honour to be in the position to help build the team, but our mission doesn't end there. What we accomplish in 2016 at Hazeltine must serve as the foundation for future USA Ryder Cup teams."

Love was part of an 11-man task force set up to look into all aspects of the United States' approach to the Ryder Cup after they suffered an eighth defeat in the last 10 contests, in Scotland last year.

The founding of the task force was sparked by Phil Mickelson's public criticism of 2014 captain Tom Watson immediately after that defeat.

Love, who won his sole major at the 1997 PGA Championship, played in six consecutive Ryder Cups from 1993.

He experienced victory on his first appearance, which came at The Belfry, after pairing with Tom Kite to beat Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal in the foursomes and winning a crucial singles match against Costantino Rocca on the last day.

Love was on the winning side once again at Brookline in 1999, defeating Jean Van de Velde 6&5 in the concluding singles as the US mounted a final-day fightback.

He contested his final Ryder Cup as a player at Oakland Hills in 2004 but was back in the fold as a vice-captain to Corey Pavin for the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

Two years later, Love, now captain, guided the US into a strong position heading into the final day at Medinah only to see a Europe side led by Olazabal mount a stunning comeback to win 14½-13½.