Kim takes aim at Ryder Cup selection policy

NORTON, MA - AUGUST 31: Anthony Kim hits his drive on the fourth hole during the third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC of Boston held on August 31, 2008 in Norton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Cohen/Getty Images)Anthony Kim has expressed sympathy for Paul Azinger ahead of the American Ryder Cup team captain's squad announcement later today.

Kim, who qualified automatically for the America Ryder Cup team, feels that the current selection process which grants Azinger four wildcard picks is questionable, and that it forces the team captain to make tough decisions that could have been answered by automatic qualification.

“I don’t want to be in his shoes for sure,” Kim told Reuters. “I think it would be easier if he just had two. You need to pick a couple of veterans, Steve Stricker of Scott Verplank, those guys come to mind, and guys like Hunter Mahan. A couple of younger guys and a couple of veterans. I’m just throwing out names. I haven’t looked at their stats or anything.”

As the rules for qualification stand at present Azinger picks a third of the American Ryder Cup team, and is therefore likely to bear the brunt of criticism if the team goes on to perform poorly at Valhalla Country Club later this month.

Kim summed up Azinger's predicament by saying: “If the guys play well, you’re a genius; if they don’t, you made a huge mistake. It’s a tough decision.”