Azinger left with little choice but to pick three rookies

UNITED States Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger unveiled his captain's picks at a new York hotel yesterday and admitted that "nobody really jumped off the page" when he made his four selections.

Announcing his choices 17 days before the 37th match against Europe begins at Valhalla in Kentucky, there was some surprise as Azinger chose three players who have never played in the Ryder Cup before – Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan and JB Holmes – and Chad Campbell. The latter and Holmes are the only ones from the wildcard quartet to have won a tournament this year.

The captain's selections join automatic qualifiers Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, Ben Curtis and Boo Weekley on the USA team for Valhalla, but despite the lack of any stand-out performers to choose from, Azinger insisted that he was comfortable with his choices.

"I said all along that we needed to change the selection process and we did that," Azinger said. "We put a one-year system in place and I liked the way it worked and who the top eight players turned out to be.

"It was also my desire to pick four players who were the best, the most confident after the PGA Championship, and we had three tournaments to identify that.

"Unfortunately we had three foreign winners in those events so nobody really jumped off the page, but in the end, the guys that I decided to pick are all playing really, really well."

Of his four choices, Azinger said Stricker – who finished in ninth position on the US Ryder Cup points list after being bumped out of the side by Ben Curtis' late charge at last month's PGA Championship – had rubber-stamped his place first while JB Holmes, a native of Kentucky, was another who had been catching his eye for a long time.

"Steve has a little experience Presidents Cup-wise, he won a matchplay event down in Australia a few years back and statistically he's a fantastic player.

"Had the selection process continued over the last few weeks, Steve Stricker would have actually made the team and so I'm really happy to have Steve."

Of Holmes, who had led the PGA at Oakland Hills after 54 holes before a disastrous opening-hole triple bogey on his final round, Azinger said: "He's from Kentucky, he's a bomber, he has a terrific Walker Cup record and he won in Phoenix this year.

"I really like his personality, he fits matchplay and he knows Valhalla like the back of his hand so maybe that will help. I hope it does."

Azinger also sang the praises of Mahan, who in July saw scathing comments about his perception of Ryder Cup players as "slaves" published in an American golf magazine.

"Hunter Mahan is a young lion," the captain said, "no Ryder Cup experience, a terrific ball striker, statistically he hits a lot of greens in regulation. He's going to add a lot to the team."

Campbell was perhaps the one surprise among the selections, having finished 20th in the points list, but his Ryder Cup experiences in 2004 and 2006 told in his favour, Azinger said.

"Chad is a terrific ball striker, third on tour all around (statistically), top 10 in ball striking and he's very long off the tee.

"Every player on this list is supported by all the players, a lot of friends and my assistants, and I'm really excited about having these guys. I think we round off this team with the best possible players at this point."

Of the players to miss out, veteran Rocco Mediate, the US Open runner-up, and last season's Presidents Cup hero Woody Austin would have been perhaps most disappointed not get the captain's call.

"There's a lot of players that I could have picked but I didn't pick," Azinger said. "I don't want to try to justify why I didn't pick the guys I didn't pick.

"There were a lot of guys who were really deserving to be on the team and I had some really good friends who I would have liked to have picked and there is some heartache in all of this as well."

Azinger hinted that Tiger Woods may still have an impact on the Ryder Cup despite being ruled out by injury.

The US captain said he had spoken to the world Number 1 about the match and hoped to have his input during the biennial team competition in Louisville, Kentucky.

"I'm going to have an open phone line to Tiger Woods during the event," Azinger said.

"I am curious to see how he feels as things unfold throughout the week. He's really intelligent and has a great golf mind so I'm looking forward to talking to Tiger.

"I can call any time I want. I have a good relationship with Tiger."

Azinger said Woods was not involved in choosing the wildcards and the pair had not yet discussed whether he would travel to Valhalla during Ryder Cup week.

Woods is recovering from the knee operation he had after his US Open triumph in June and is out for the rest of the year.

"We're missing Tiger Woods, the greatest player on earth, which is a big blow to us," Azinger said. "It's one of my great regrets of this Ryder Cup."

The US captain added that everyone was eager to see Woods back in action. "I think the game needs Tiger and misses Tiger," said Azinger.

• Scotland, winners of the World Cup thanks to Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren last November, will have to go through qualifying for the event later this month unless players from three countries turn down the chance to play.

The 18 exempt nations are determined off the world rankings issued yesterday and if everyone was to play, the Scots would be ranked only 21st. The leading Scot is Alastair Forsyth at 90th.

Wales are in an even worse position. Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd won the title only three years ago, but neither is in the world's top 100 any more and so they are ranked 23rd.

Players have until Friday week to commit to the event but a large number of withdrawals are expected from an event that no longer attracts the top names.

The American dozen on their way to Valhalla

CHAD CAMPBELL

From Andrews, Texas.
Age 34. Caps: 2 (2004-06).
Record: P6 W1 H2 L3.
World ranking: 53.
Majors: 0.
Tour wins: 4.

Wild card. Was expected to be the next big thing in golf when runner-up to Shaun Micheel at the 2003 US PGA, but it hasn't happened yet and has had only a small role in last two matches.

STEWART CINK

From Huntsville, Alabama.
Age 35. Caps: 3 (2002-04-06).
Record: P12 P3 H4 L5.
World ranking: 9.
Majors: 0.
Tour wins: 5.

Finished third on the US points table. Gave his best cup display with 2006 singles win over Sergio Garcia. Runner-up to Tiger in World Match Play.

BEN CURTIS

From Columbus, Ohio.
Age 31. Debut.
World ranking: 33.
Majors: 1 (Open 2003).
Tour wins: 3.

Forced his way into the side with joint runners-up finish at US PGA, leaping from 21st to eighth in points race. Was ranked 396th in the world when he won the 2003 Open at Sandwich, his first ever major.

JIM FURYK

From West Chester, Pennsylvania
Age 38. Caps: 5 (1997-99-02-04-06).
Record: P20 W6 H2 L12.
World ranking: 13.
Majors: 1 (US Open 2003).
Tour wins: 16.

Had Tiger Woods as his partner two years ago, but won only two out of four and lost singles to Paul Casey. Reached world number two, but has not won so far this year.

JB HOLMES

From Campbellsville, Kentucky.
Age 26. Debut.
World ranking: 55.
Majors: 0.
Tour wins: 2.

Huge hitter will be playing in his home state. Team-mate of Anthony Kim at 2005 Walker Cup and in February beat Phil Mickelson in play-off to keep FBR Open title.

ANTHONY KIM

From Los Angeles, California.
Age 23. Debut.
World ranking: 15.
Majors: 0.
Tour wins: 2.

Fast-rising star who earns first cap just three years after being part of winning Walker Cup team. Finished second in his first PGA Tour event and, after two wins this season, came seventh in his first Open.

JUSTIN LEONARD

From Dallas, Texas.
Age 36. Caps: 2 (1997-99).
Record: P8 H5 L3.
World ranking: 23.
Majors: 1 (Open 1997).
Tour wins: 12.

Back after missing last three matches. Yet to win a Ryder Cup game, but was America's hero in 1999. Amazing 45-foot putt on 17th led to invasion of the green before opponent Jose Maria Olazabal had chance to keep match alive.

HUNTER MAHAN

From Orange, California.
Age 26. Debut.
World ranking: 37.
Majors: 0.
Tour wins: 1.

Wild card. Ex-American junior champion and top college player was given Presidents Cup wild card by Jack Nicklaus last year. Won twice in foursomes with Steve Stricker, but lost other three games. Chosen despite controversy over claim that cup players are "slaves".

PHIL MICKELSON

From San Diego, California.
Age 38. Caps: 6 (1995-97-99-02-04-06).
Record: P25 W9 H4 L12.
World ranking: 2.
Majors: 3 (Masters 2004-06, USPGA 2005).
Tour wins: 35.

Unbeaten on his cup debut, but has had tough time in last two matches with only one-and-a-half points from nine games.

KENNY PERRY

From Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
Age 48. Caps: 1 (2004).
Record: P2 L2.
World ranking: 17.
Majors: 0.
Tour wins: 12.

Lost a play-off for 1996 US PGA at Valhalla and will have home state support again. Hardly used by captain Hal Sutton in 2004, but is enjoying best season of his career, despite choosing not to play at the Open at Birkdale.

STEVE STRICKER

From Edgerton, Wisconsin.
Age 41. Debut.
World ranking: 8.
Majors: 0.
Tour wins: 4.

Needed wild card despite being third highest-ranked American in the world. Played in the Presidents Cup back in 1996 and won Dunhill Cup that year with Phil Mickelson and Mark O'Meara. World Match Play champion in 2001, then lost US Tour card.

BOO WEEKLEY

From Milton, Florida.
Age 35. Debut.
World ranking: 35.
Majors: 0.
Tour wins: 2.

Ten years after turning professional he finally established himself on the US Tour last season. Lost World Cup play-off to Scots Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren.