Eight-time major champion Tom Watson appears to be the frontrunner to be named the United States Ryder Cup golf captain on Thursday for the 2014 edition at Gleneagles in Scotland.

The PGA of America could be poised to pick the former captain and five-time British Open winner as their next skipper to replace Davis Love, Golf Digest reported on its website.

Watson told AAP at the Australian Open in Sydney last weekend that, if named, he would welcome the role, describing it as “an honour”.

David Toms and Larry Nelson are also in the running for the job after the Americans suffered a shocking defeat to Europe two months ago in Chicago.

The PGA of America plans to announce the next Ryder Cup captain during a morning talk show on Thursday on American broadcaster NBC.

Nothing is official but, if they choose Watson, it would be a departure from their recent pattern of picking former major champions who still play on the PGA Tour.

Watson was captain when the Americans won their last Ryder Cup in Europe in 1993 at The Belfry.

He will be 65 by the next Ryder Cup which would make him the oldest skipper in American history. Watson has not played full-time on the Tour in 14 years. Sam Snead was 57 when he captained the US team in 1969.

Nelson is a three-time major championship winner and the 45-year-old Toms won the 2001 PGA Championship.