AMERICAN Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin has revealed that on taking the job he asked if he could have 12 wild cards and select the entire side for Celtic Manor himself.
Pavin was appointed by the Professional Golfers' Association of America last December and he said at this week's Texas Open: "I asked if I could have 12 captain's picks. They just kind of laughed. I was serious – the more the better. But I also thin
k there is some merit to playing your way on the team."
Pavin, who like predecessor Paul Azinger will have "only" four picks, was reacting to this week's decision by Europe to give captain Colin Montgomerie a third wild card.
"Last time we were the ones trying to break a losing streak," added Pavin. "Now they are trying to win. Changing to three picks must have meant we did something right (Azinger had his number doubled to four). They are trying to do something to help them."
He added: "Certainly the more picks a captain has the more flexibility he has in creating his team. But you have to balance the fact you want players to earn their way on to the team and not have too many picks.
"I thought what Paul did was very good," added Pavin. "He kept the team together. But the best part of the whole system he had was the fact the players believed in it. It doesn't matter in some cases what system you have as long as the players believe in it. They gain confidence from it and they think they are in the best shape to perform."
Apart from the revamped selection system, Azinger's meticulous preparations for last year's Ryder Cup included an unwavering focus on team bonding within three distinct groups of four players. Asked if he would follow Azinger's successful lead, Pavin replied: "I think I will do some of that, but almost every captain has done that in the past to some extent. Paul took it to a different level and it was a good system, no doubt.
"I remember back in 1991 when I played, Dave Stockton was pairing Steve Pate and myself in February in exhibition-type things. So he already had that in mind seven months before."
Pavin is playing in next month's Wales Open at Celtic Manor to familiarise himself with the venue for the match in October next year. He and Montgomerie will have their first face-to-face conversation there since their appointments.
"I called him when he was named captain and left a message and he called me and left one a couple of weeks ago," said the former US Open champion. "Going overseas is always harder in general," he said. "We haven't won (away) since 1993. It's a big advantage to the home team – especially a place we haven't played before.
"They will have the crowd, they will have the weather and the conditions on their side. That's why I have started to encourage as many Americans as possible to come over to Wales.
"By the time we get over (for the match) they will have three years' experience playing there and we will have none, unless some of our guys go over."
The United States won the trophy back by a thumping five-point margin even without the injured Tiger Woods.
It was suggested in some quarters that the world No 1's absence helped to galvanise the side, but Pavin remarked: "I know how bad he wants to win the Ryder Cup – I've seen it in his eyes. There is no doubt the team has got to be a better one with Tiger on it. Are you kidding me?"
The full article contains 629 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
