Can temperamental Bubba Watson keep it together for Team USA at the Ryder Cup?

Sure hope Bubba Watson packed his mukluks for his stay at Gleneagles. The notoriously fair-weather Ryder Cup golfer may be in for some typical Scottish weather that’s bound to be even rougher than the sprinkles at Valhalla that sent the touchy American into a loud and whiny tailspin.

That’s Bubba — the only player on either side with a handpicked babysitter (his long-suffering caddie, Ted Scott, was already on board). Conventional wisdom has it that Tom Watson made Webb Simpson a captain’s pick so that Bubba Watson had someone who could tolerate playing with him and who might be able to keep his fellow member of golf’s “Christian connection” from going all Bubba on the event, the elements, photo-bombing fans or even his host country.

The younger Watson, you may recall, has done just that on several occasions. Most recently, Bubba cried foul when organizers asked him to entertain spectators in the PGA Championship’s long-drive contest and then went ballistic when the golf gods dared cover his golf club with rain.

Before that, there was that incident with the spectators and the cameras at the British Open.

And, of course, Bubba from Bagdad will always have Paris.

As for what Watson brings to the 2014 U.S. team, Captain Tom can only hope that Caleb’s daddy leaves his otherwise recent ragged play in the courtesy car and brings his Masters-winning, second-place BMW Championship finish and fan-pumping enthusiasm with him to the course, as well as an extra bumbershoot.

Age: 35
World ranking: 7
Ryder Cup record (Win-Loss-Halve): 5-5-1
Past Ryder Cup appearance: 2010, 2012
How he qualified: Automatic spot -- 1st in standings (6,930.038 points)