Paul Azinger

Golfer Paul Azinger from the U.S.A. tees off on the 18th hole at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on March 17, 2007 in Orlando, Florida.

Paul Azinger is the Team USA Ryder Cup captain for 2008. As captain, he'll be looking to prevent Europe from gaining a fourth consecutive victory at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisiana, Kentucky. The once-dominant USA last won the biennial matches in 1999.

Team Europe will be led by captain Nick Faldo, who has come head-to-head with Azinger on the greens more than once - most famously, at the Belfry in the 2003 Ryder Cup, where the two players tied in a singles match despite a hole-in-one by Faldo. Faldo and Azinger worked together as ABC network golf commentators, so it will be interesting to see how their relationship plays out at the Ryder Cup Matches.

On being asked to take the position as USA Ryder Cup captain, Azinger said, "I just want to say that it is, I think, the greatest honour you can bestow on a professional golfer is to ask him to captain a Ryder Cup team, and I'm awestruck by it."

Ryder Cup Appearances

Azinger has made a total of four appearances at the Ryder Cup Matches, in 1989, 1991, 1993 and 2002. Over a total of 15 matches during these events, he achieved a record of 5-7-3, including a 2-0-2 mark in singles matches.

In 1989, the matches were tied, and Europe retained the Cup after having won the previous matches. Both 1991 and 1993 saw the Americans take the trophy. In 1991, Azinger made his mark by earning a critical point in a singles match with Jose Maria Olazabal, helping secure a 14½ to 13½ win for the United States.

In 2002, Azinger was a captain's pick for the US Ryder Cup. That year saw the beginning of what has become a winning streak for the European side.

See our Paul Azinger profile for more details about this impressive player's career.

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