BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Paul Azinger's days and nights have just gotten a bit longer.
After having renovated the Ryder Cup Standings to insert more current winners into the line-up for golf's ultimate spectacle, the United States Ryder Cup Captain has found that his work to build a team following the 90th PGA Championship is anything but finished.
With eight players earning automatic berths following last Sunday's 90th PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club, Azinger said that he will study the play of contenders in the next three weeks – utilizing both counsel from close friends and observing performance statistics – before announcing his four Captain's selections on Sept. 2, at a 10 a.m. news conference at the Radisson Martinique on Broadway in New York City.
"I'm really grateful I didn't have to make four picks this morning," said Azinger, Monday, in a news conference at Oakland Hills. "I can assure you it would have been very difficult and honestly, I wouldn't know what to do if I had to sit back right now and say, these are the four guys. I could have gotten burned by it because there's three weeks remaining after this tournament before I get to pick. Hopefully the four picks will fall right in my lap and it will be obvious. I don't think it will be that way, and I think picking four guys will be difficult."
One point is clear to Azinger, and it doesn't need embellishment.
"We are going to take on an underdog role in this Ryder Cup for the first time in a long time – even on paper – when you look at the strength of the European squad," said Azinger. "We are going to have everything to gain here."
Europe has dominated the Ryder Cup since the mid-1980s, holding possession of the 17-inch cup in eight of the past 11 competitions. Europe has posted consecutive 18½ to 9½ routs in the past two meetings in 2004 and 2006.
The eight automatic qualifiers include three rookies – Anthony Kim, a two-time winner this season; Ben Curtis, who shared second in the PGA Championship; and Boo Weekley. The veterans earning their way on to the team are: Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard.
None of the five Americans with Ryder Cup experience have a winning record, and are a collective 18-34-15 in the matches.
"I've said all along that experience, while being very important. . .I mean, we've lost five of the last six Ryder Cups, so most of their experiences are bad experiences," said Azinger. "So, it's not like experience is going to be a great help. I'm looking for guys that are playing well – it's as simple as that."
Azinger worked with The PGA of America to change a points system that originally rewarded top-10 finishes over a two-year period, putting emphasis on the current year with points based on a player's money earnings. Double points were awarded for performances in the majors.
Curtis earned his spot through a steady effort at rugged Oakland Hills, and was praised by Azinger.
"He's got that kind of demeanor that you need on the Ryder Cup Team," said Azinger. "You need a bunch of different type of personalities for a Ryder Cup Team to blend, and Ben Curtis is a little more stoic, a little more subdued. But I like his personality."
Joining Azinger at the news conference via telephone were Leonard, the hero of the 1999 Ryder Cup – the last U.S. victory – and Weekley.
Leonard's birdie putt on the 17th hole in 1999 at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., lifted the U.S. in the greatest one-day comeback in a Ryder Cup.
"I'm very excited to be on this team," said Leonard. "This has been a goal of mine for about nine years, and it's taken a little longer for me to reach it than I'd like, but now that I'm back on the team, I've certainly played a couple, but I feel like I'm going to bring a little bit of not quite youth, but you know, maybe a little perspective on it that some of the other guys may not have.
"I'm looking forward to getting back to that. There are some great memories because of the success that we had on Sunday, but there's nothing like those butterflies on the first tee of your first match in a Ryder Cup. There's nothing like it."
Weekley said the pressure he felt to make the top eight was magnified at the PGA Championship, and he responded with a closing 66.
"It was pretty heavy. I mean, after that morning round of finishing up, I really was just like, we've got to go out and play some good golf," said Weekley. "We have got to show them that we want to be a part of it and that we can play under pressure and that we can play against all odds. You know, you're out there playing 36 holes or 30 holes, however many holes you played, it shows that, hey, you know, you've got the backbone to go out there and do it, and I wanted to prove it, and I know I could."
Azinger said that he won't be a Captain that needs to deliver a rousing locker room speech.
"In the end, there's no super motivational speech you can give to a guy who is playing poorly to get him to play better," Azinger said,, "and I've said all along, I don't think I can say anything stupid enough to screw a guy up who is playing well. So we'll see how that plays out. I think the selection process has worked so far," said Azinger. "I'm really excited about who we have on the team. The next three weeks are going to be really important for the remainder of the PGA Tour because as I look at it right now anybody can get on this team."
The European Ryder Cup Team will be determined on Aug. 31, with Captain Nick Faldo announcing his two Captain's selections that day at 1 p.m. EDT, following the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, Scotland.
Begun in 1927, the Ryder Cup is among the last great professional sporting events where winning, and not prize money, is its own reward. The United States, which owns a 24-10-2 advantage in the biennial competition, has not claimed possession of the Ryder Cup since 1999.
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.
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Final 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup Team Standings & Ryder Cup Experience
Place/Player Points Years/Ryder Cup Overall Record
Top 8 Positions Earn Automatic Berths
1. Phil Mickelson 5,342.500 '97, '99, 2002, '04, '06 9-12-4
2. Stewart Cink 4,952.665 2002, '04, '06 3-5-4
3. Kenny Perry 4,480.700 2004 0-2-0
4. Jim Furyk 4,423.892 1997, '99, 2002, '04, '06 6-12-2
5. Anthony Kim 4,035.296 Debut ---
6. Justin Leonard 3,379.274 1997, '99 0-3-5
7. Ben Curtis 3,120.061 Debut ---
8. Boo Weekley 2,785.095 Debut ---
9. Steve Stricker 2,663.568 --- ---
10. Woody Austin 2,422.983 --- ---
11. D.J. Trahan 2,372.566 --- ---
12. Hunter Mahan 2,304.517 --- ---
13. Sean O'Hair 2,282.822 --- ---
14. Rocco Mediate 2,273.660 --- ---
15. Brandt Snedeker 2,248.887 --- ---
16. Zach Johnson 2,184.508 2006 1-2-1
17. J.B. Holmes 2,126.047 --- ---
18. Jeff Quinney 2,024.187 --- ---
19. Bart Bryant 1,900.257 --- ---
20. Chad Campbell 1,827.429 2004, '06 1-3-2
21. Jerry Kelly 1,774.993 --- ---
22. Steve Flesch 1,720.528 --- ---
23. Heath Slocum 1,665.654 --- ---
24. Paul Goydos 1,614.467 --- ---
25. Briny Baird 1,586.664 --- ---
*- Tiger Woods, who has held the No. 1 position at 11,365.627 points, is sidelined for the season due to injury.
