Azinger completes US Ryder Cup team
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 The 37th Ryder Cup | General | 03 Sep 2008
US Ryder Cup captain, Paul Azinger, has added Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan, J.B. Holmes and Chad Campbell as his wild card picks for the US Ryder Cup side.
Stricker, Mahan and Holmes will make their Ryder Cup debuts while Campbell has played in each of the last two encounters.
Stricker and Mahan were close enough to the automatic top eight in Ryder Cup point standings to make their selection a logical choice and Campbell’s previous Ryder Cup experience and recent return to form was no doubt an influencing factor in him getting the nod.
J.B. Holmes’s form on the other hand has not been great over the last five months after what had been a good start to the 2008 season. His selection may well have been influenced by his Kentucky roots although hopefully Azinger has made that decision on other criteria.
The unlucky player may well have been Woody Austin who was in 10th position on the points standing but whose final round demise at the Deutsche Bank Championship has likely cost him a place. A strong final day might well have forced Azinger’s hand but it was not to be.
Six of the USA Team will make their Ryder Cup debuts.
US Team
- Anthony Kim
- Ben Curtis
- Boo Weekley
- Chad Campbell
- Hunter Mahan
- J.B. Holmes
- Jim Furyk
- Justin Leonard
- Kenny Perry
- Phil Mickelson
- Steve Stricker
- Stewart Cink
