Azinger to be US Ryder Cup captain...

[The Basement]

sorry if this has been discussed - i only went back 2 pages -

but for those that care about the Ryder Cup, and perhaps for those that don't - what do you think of this appointment (and Faldo's for that matter?)

There's the golf side of this, and then the PR side...Faldo and Azinger have established personalities as the "working media", not to mention their golf resumes. Do you think, at least on the US side, that Azinger was also brought aboard for this next cup to help generate some national interest? For sure he and Faldo will have some back and forth's and who knows, he seems to be the type of guy to say some things to garner some attention.

I dont think the Euro's would pick Faldo for similar reasons, but who knows?

As for golf - does it mean anything for the US squad? Or is it really a matter of them tweaking the point system again and having the top 3 players in the world actually show up?

 

[Claws for Concern]

Azinger will pick Tiger again and the U.S. will not win in 2008 Ryder Cup. Perhaps the new PGA Tour system, when it will be in its second runthrough, will give the U.S. a new look and perhaps a HUNGRIER team.

 

[Ledbetter]

Azinger won't have to pick Tiger. And it's impossible to tell what impact it will have since nobody knows what the U.S. or European teams will look like in '08.

 

[heyabbott]

"ESPN is confirming a published Associated Press report that Paul Azinger has been selected to the the United States Ryder Cup Captain."

 

[Claws for Concern]

Azinger won't have to pick Tiger. And it's impossible to tell what impact it will have since nobody knows what the U.S. or European teams will look like in '08.

TV suits will tell Azinger to pick Tiger for ratings. Duh!

 

[playthrough]

I don't think the captain means a thing to the US side. Lehman was said to be a good "players captain" encouraging camaraderie and blah blah blah. It's still golf.

Azinger won't generate more interest. Golf fanatics like the Ryder Cup regardless, and non-golf fans aren't going to be magically drawn in by the witty banter Azinger and Faldo throw at each other in the pre-match press conferences. It's not like their work in the TV booth vaulted golf ahead of the NFL in ratings.

I'm a golf nut, and I don't even care. The U.S. players have sold their soul to the majors. Fine. There are now only four weeks that I absolutely have to watch TV every day. Screw the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and definitely the new FedEx Cup.

 

[Bump_Wills]

Azinger won't have to pick Tiger. And it's impossible to tell what impact it will have since nobody knows what the U.S. or European teams will look like in '08.

TV suits will tell Azinger to pick Tiger for ratings. Duh!

Tiger will get in as a top-10 player. Nobody will have to tell anybody to pick him. Duh!

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Tiger Woods will be on the US team three years after he's dead.

 

[shotglass]

I don't see Zinger as being the type to do anything bold in this role. And maybe it's time the U.S. got somebody who would.

 

[Lollygaggers]

U.S captains have failed being bold (Sutton pairing Woods and Mickelson) and playing it safe (Lehman going with Woods/Furyk and Mickelson/DiMarco). That being said, the pairings Azinger decides to use will have a big impact, as will who he sits during the first two days. If one of the stars goes out and bombs his first match, and Azinger has the guts to sit him, then he's making a big impact. Don't know if he's that kind of guy, though. Johnny Miller, on the other hand, is.

 

[nafselon]

Did anyone else on the U.S. win three points other then Tiger?

 

[Blitz]

Azinger will pick Tiger again and the U.S. will not win in 2008 Ryder Cup. Perhaps the new PGA Tour system, when it will be in its second runthrough, will give the U.S. a new look and perhaps a HUNGRIER team.

He and Faldo joked about the captain selection in pregame commentary today at The Tour Championship t.v. show.
Azinger apparently lost his phone somewhere around the club near Atlanta. Faldo asked if he had Tiger's number in there.
Azinger first said he did, then said Tiger won't give the # to anyone.

 

[hondo]

Azinger won't have to pick Tiger. And it's impossible to tell what impact it will have since nobody knows what the U.S. or European teams will look like in '08.

TV suits will tell Azinger to pick Tiger for ratings. Duh!

The ignorance of golf on this board is astounding. Does anyone think Tiger will not make the team on points?
Idiots.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Nothing's impossible, Hondo. Suppose he takes all of 2008 off on paternity leave?

 

[Ledbetter]

Any chance Azinger can leave for the job now? Having him, Faldo and Finch in the booth is brutal. Individually, I think these guys are pretty good, but all in there together they're just sniping at one another and trying to be funny.

Too many cooks spoil the stew.

 

[hondo]

Nothing's impossible, Hondo. Suppose he takes all of 2008 off on paternity leave?

Sorry for the rant. Just can't stand it when guys who know nothing beyond NFL and NBA try to act as if they know anything about golf.

 

[Montezuma's Revenge]

For a bunch of supposed sports journalists, the posters on this thread don't know jack about golf.

 

[Lollygaggers]

Maybe everyone will fare better if we start a NASCAR thread . . .

 

[Football_Bat]

Someone please enlighten me how a captain will help you win 18 holes.

"WOODS YOU DOUCHEBAG. YOU LOLLIGAG HERE AND YOU LOLLIGAG THERE AND YOU CAN'T WIN 18 HOLES. MICKELSON, YOU SUCK TOO AND YOUR MAN TITS ARE IN THE WAY. YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF ****ING LOOSERS."

Please, enlighten me.

 

[hondo]

Someone please enlighten me how a captain will help you win 18 holes.

"WOODS YOU DOUCHEBAG. YOU LOLLIGAG HERE AND YOU LOLLIGAG THERE AND YOU CAN'T WIN 18 HOLES. MICKELSON, YOU SUCK TOO AND YOUR MAN TITS ARE IN THE WAY. YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF ****ING LOOSERS."

Please, enlighten me.

A captain could:

1. Strongly urge Ryder Cup candidates to play practice round doubles matches at Tour events with other potential team members.
2. Urge them to play best ball and alterante shot, and forgo games such as Nassaus, skins and hammer. (If I have to explain how those games work, you don't know enough about golf to be on this thread. Go find a college football or a Bush-bashing thread ... oh wait, most of you don't know jack about that either).

anyway, to continue...

3. Urge players to travel to the Ryder Cup MORE THAN ONCE and play there.

4. Make his captain's picks some hungry kid who's never been on the team, rather than a tired old hack. Maybe it will work. Try something different, anyway.

5. Tell Phil to get stupid on his own time. Team match play is all about playing conservatively and getting the ball in the hole.

That's free advice for Azinger.

3.