Azinger puts positive spin on US role as the underdogs

THE QUIET word on the street all along has been that Paul Azinger would tinker with the course at Valhalla to ensure his United States team had an advantage on the European invaders.

And the US captain will today pay a visit to the course outside Louisville, Kentucky. But all talk of turning the layout into one designed to aid "bombers", the so-called long-hitters on tour, appear misplaced.

"I don't want anybody feeling handcuffed," remarked Azinger yesterday, after announcing his four wild cards - Steve Stricker, JB Holmes, Hunter Mahan and Chad Campbell - for the Ryder Cup match on September 19th-21st.

"I'm tired of playing in five-inch rough, personally. I think a bomber is going to like the course, there's not a lot of rough and the first cut in spots is going to be pretty wide . . . but I don't know if it favours any team particularly. I just didn't want anyone to feel hand-cuffed off the tee. Well, I don't care if Europe feels handcuffed, but I don't want our guys (to).

"I don't think there's any advantage one way or another," he added, "it's just the way I set up the course. Europe, I think, has been able to exploit an advantage (in past matches) trying to neutralise powerful teams. We don't necessarily have a super powerful team at this point, but we have a strong team and some guys hit it long and some guys hit it straight. We'll see how it plays out."

Indeed, Azinger, who is undecided on whether to ask Tiger Woods to make an appearance during the week in a morale-boosting capacity, acknowledged that the US would enter this match in the rare position of being tagged as underdogs.

"It'll be unique, I think, to be in America, on our home soil, as underdogs. The European team is strong, one of the strongest I've ever seen them bring across here. We'll be the underdogs, missing Tiger Woods who is the greatest player on earth and arguably the greatest ever . . . and that's a big blow to us.

"But I like the team we have, and I'm really confident. It's okay to be the underdog. Somebody has to be the underdog and it is very rare that it's evenly matched."

Azinger will take a relatively inexperienced team to Valhalla in two weeks, with only six of his 12 players bringing Ryder Cup experience. And, to be honest, many of the sextet who have played in previous matches carry quite an amount of baggage.

Mickelson, the world number two and likely to shoulder much of the US's hopes and expectations, has played in six matches since 1995 but only featured on one winning team - in 1999 - and has a personal record of nine wins, 12 losses and four halved matches.

Did he have any concerns about Mickelson's form of late? "No, I think his recent form's been pretty good. He didn't play great last week (in the Deutsche Bank). I think he's possibly a little bit tired. But Phil Mickelson is a terrific player, and I'm happy to have him on our team."

Intriguingly, though, Azinger did confirm that he would be in contact with Woods, either in person or by phone, throughout the Ryder Cup.

"I'm going to have an open phone line to Tiger Woods during the event. I didn't think it was fair to ask Tiger to participate in the selection process in any way. But I am kind of curious how he feels as the event unfolds, and as things unfold throughout the week. He's really intelligent and he's a great golf mind, so I'm looking forward to talking to Tiger," said Azinger.

Indeed, with no Woods and a Mickelson who hasn't quite ignited for some time, it would appear Azinger is anxious the home crowd in Louisville provide an extra edge to his team's cause.

"Well, I expect a real boisterous, home crowd advantage," replied Azinger, when asked if he felt the crowd would be factor.

"That's what I'd like, imploring the crowd there to be our 13th man, all the while understanding that it is a golf event and that everyone needs to be properly behaved and never cross the line of what's proper etiquette in the event. And that's my hope, and I think sportsmanship should play out in the end, as it always should in these matches."

Although Europe's captain, Nick Faldo, has asked for as many of his players as possible to be available for a pre-match trip to Valhalla early next week, Azinger has decided against any advance team trips to the course. His plan is for the team to assemble at the course on Monday week, believing that three or four days at the venue will be quite sufficient to work out its nuances.

THE CAPTAIN

Paul Azinger

Age: 48

Caps: 4 (1989, 1991, 1993, 2002)

Ryder Cup record: Played: 16, Won: 5, Halved: 3, Lost 8.

Majors: 1 (US PGA, 1993)

Tour wins: 14

• Runner-up to Nick Faldo in 1987 British Open, but in four Ryder Cup clashes between the two he was never beaten. Had some heated battles with Seve Ballesteros, but that was put into perspective with his fight to overcome cancer just after his major win.

FORMAT CHANGE

FOR the first time since 1999 the Ryder Cup will start with foursomes rather than the fourballs.

American captain Paul Azinger decided on the switch in the hope of giving his team an early advantage.

Europe have won the last three opening fourballs, but even in foursomes it is not since 1991 at Kiawah Island that the United States have taken a lunchtime lead.

In the seven matches since then Europe lead 34-22 in foursomes and 31-25 in fourballs.