United States Team Captain Davis Love III today named Fred Couples and Mike Hulbert as his Vice Captains for The 2012 Ryder Cup.

Love also announced the order of play for each of the two days of team matches, with foursomes as the format for each morning session, followed by fourballs in the afternoon.

Couples and Hulbert will serve as Vice Captains when the United States take on Europe in the 39th edition of the biennial contest, which will this year be played at Medinah Country Club in Chicago, Illinois, from September 28-30, 2012.

Couples, 52, the 1992 Masters Tournament champion, is a veteran of five Ryder Cup Teams, having played in 1989, ‘91, ‘93, ’95 and ‘97). Couples also served as an unbeaten Captain in the Presidents Cup, guiding the United States to victories in 2009 and 2011, and will return to that position in 2013.

Hulbert, 54, served as Vice Captain to American Ryder Cup Captain Curtis Strange in 2002, but has not competed in a Ryder Cup.

“Success for any Team in a Ryder Cup begins with a strong support staff, giving encouragement to players at the right time in the greatest event in golf,” said Love. “Fred and Mike are my trusted friends, guys that I have played a lot of golf with, and two guys that other players like to be around and work with. We will face great challenges this September, and I’m very pleased that they have agreed to join me.”

Couples and Love were teammates during the 1993, ‘95 and ‘97 Ryder Cups, and also teamed up to win four consecutive (1992-95) World Cup titles.

Hulbert’s ties to Love include a pair of meetings in the former Kapalua International in Hawaii. Hulbert defeated Love in a play-off on Kapalua’s Plantation Course in 1991, and returned a year later to finish runner-up to his friend by a stroke. Prior to joining the Champions Tour, Hulbert caddied in early 2008 for Love at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and the Northern Trust Open on the US PGA Tour.

The United States points system will determine the top eight players for the 2012 United States Ryder Cup Team on August 12, following completion of the 94th US PGA Championship, held at the Ocean Course in Kiawah Island.  In addition, Love selects four players on September 4 in New York City, to complete the United States Team.

The Ryder Cup is one of the most spirited, exciting and compelling events in sport—covering nearly 85 years, involving the greatest players in the world and producing some of the greatest moments in the game.

This September, the United States will attempt to win back The Ryder Cup, which it relinquished in 2010 following Europe’s 14½-13½ victory at The Celtic Manor Resort, in Wales. The United States last won a Ryder Cup in 2008 after a 16½-11½ victory at Valhalla Golf Club, in Louisville.

The order of play for team matches chosen today by Love is the same order selected by Paul Azinger, America’s victorious Captain in 2008.

European Captain José María Olazábal will complete his 12-man Team on August 26, with two Captain’s picks following the completion of the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.