Ryders Brace For Pavin Captaincy By Ordering Up Heavy On The Azinger Nostalgia, Well Done

You can already sense that they're clamoring for those earth-shattering one-on-ones with about-to-be-announced Captain Pavin.

John Hopkins in the Times:

There is some surprise in the selection of Pavin, 49, to be the man to lead his team at Celtic Manor Resort, near Newport. The PGA of America is believed to have wanted Azinger to repeat his role, but the man who masterminded the first US victory since 1999 decided against it. “All I can say, boys, is it’s not going to be me,” Azinger said on Monday.

Did anyone else read Azinger's comments that way? I thought it was more resignation at being passed up?

Rex Hoggard at GolfChannel.com:

The PGA may have pulled the plug on Azinger, but it was a surgeon’s scalpel that cost him his ultimate Ryder Cup experience. When Tiger Woods’ season ended shortly after his historic U.S. Open victory at Torrey Pines it robbed Azinger of his chance to captain a team that included the world No. 1.

“It’s one of those things I’m going to miss the most. Not being able to spend time with the likes of Tiger Woods . . . it’s unfortunate,” Azinger said before the matches.
For the man who didn’t leave a blade of Kentucky bluegrass undisturbed in his quest for Ryder Cup gold, the PGA’s decision and Woods’ season-ending injury are particularly painful rubs on an otherwise agreeable green.

Mark Reason in the Daily Telegraph:

If they do overlook cap'n Azinger, the PGA of America will prove that they are serious rivals for "the 57 old farts" of the RFU once lampooned by Will Carling.

Four years ago Tiger Woods and many others wanted the smarts of Mark O'Meara, but the PGA of America wouldn't have him because O'Meara had once suggested that some of their Ryder Cup profits should go to player-nominated charities.

Now, if Azinger has it right, the officers of the PGA are set to refuse to reappoint their first decent captain since Tom Watson in 1993. The hot favourite to replace Azinger is the 49-year-old Pavin. 

Update on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 08:23 AM by Geoff

Not everyone is infatuated with Azinger at the moment. Jim McCabe in the Boston Globe:

In an effort to market himself and profit from the success of his captaincy with the US Ryder Cup team, Paul Azinger fired his longtime agent and went with superpower IMG. Apparently, the Ryder Cup isn't about the money, at least until it's over, at which time it's all about the money.

Comments

[JPB]

There is no question that this was not Azinger's call. I'm not sure Azinger would have taken the job but I think he was the one who wanted to say no. I think the PGA might have bruised his ego a little bit by basically saying in so many words "we're moving forward with someone else."

JPB

[george hanson]

whadya bet Loren Roberts is his fist pick as assistant?

[Mike B.]

Why is this news? Or a better question, why is this being announced now, 20 months before the event?

Does it take that long to pick out colors of shirts and slacks?