Zinger as Captain... New Qualifying Rules for US Ryder Cup Team
In an interesting move, the PGA of America announced new qualifying rules for the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup Team. New Captain Paul Azinger was the mastermind behind the changes. See the video here.
Here are the highlights:
8 qualifiers based on the following formula:
Tournaments played from August 27-November 5, 2006 -- 1/4 point for each $1,000 earned for US players who finished in the top 10.
Tournaments played opposite the Majors and World Golf Championship Events between January 1 and August 11, 2008 -- 1/2 point for each $1,000 earned.
Majors in 2008 -- 2 points for each $1,000 earned
Official Events from January 1 to August 11, 2008 -- 1 point for each $1,000 earned, except events opposite the Majors and WGC events.
Majors in 2007 -- 1 point for each $1,000 earned
Then... Zinger gets to pick 4 "Captains Picks"
So...
US Players no longer have to finish in the top 10 to get points.
US Players will be ranked according to Earnings, which makes sense.
There are no points in 2007, other than those offered in the Majors and those earned prior to this announcement.
Overall, it is a great choice and hopefully will give Zinger a "better" team! However, they still need to play like a team, instead of a bunch of individuals.
10 Comments:
Paul Azinger is already a genius for revamping the lame selection process that was in place. The new system places a premium on playing well in the year of the Ryder Cup (not the year before). Also, I like the 4 captain's picks.
I like the new qualifying process, but I'm not into FOUR captains picks. Particularly with a guy like Paul Azinger (who, in my opinion is NOT a good choice). Ultimately, I think that too many capt. picks will be the team's undoing - if history shows us anything, the four picked wil typically be chose for their experience and not how well they play. Zinger is cut from the same lame, predictable cloth as Lehman and Sutton which will drive him to play by the same lame, predictable rules - experience, good in the locker room, blah blah blah...watch for DLIII, Scott Verplank, Brad Faxon and David Toms to be his picks and I bet you all four are minimally 6 spots out of the ranking and combined only provide 2 points in the next cup.
In theory could he consider Michelle Wie?
"oldbattler"...I looked up the word "curmudgeon" in the dictionary and found your picture!!
I'm not sure it's going to make much difference. Wasn't the previous system more geared to the current year and based on winners (or at least Top tenners) than prior competitions.?
It would also be an extremely foolhardy captain who left out the ninth ranked player. I'm betting two at least come from the 9-12 spots
I think Azinger was a good choice for two reasons, he is well liked by the players, and he presumably still be a competing player on tour (121st on the money list for the 2006 year). Anyone could argue other more deserving captains, but was anyone surprised by the pick.
I think the change in number of captain's picks puts more pressure on Azinger, but with the last 3 Ryder Cups, it is expected that no one will expect him to head a winning team, and if they do win, it will only make his selection as captain look more intelligent.
As for the change in rankings, it gives more emphasis on a player's abilities on american courses in the current year. The problem is that the event will be a Valhalla, a course not in the current rotation. That, in my opinion, was the worst factor in the upcoming Ryder Cup. Hopefully, azinger can revamp the course as the Europeans did successfully in the last match, to make the course as advantageous as possible for the american players. At least make it a match, as the last two have not been.
Zinger's a great choice. He is NO WAY cut out of the same cloth as Lehman and Sutton. Azinger is an extremely smart man, and competes completely differently than Lehman or Sutton. I think his comments about Tiger already demonstrate this. He is not trying to be buddies with Tiger and trying to put Tiger into a position that he's not comfortable, i.e. being a leader. Azinger said, "His playing ability is enough."
4 picks and a revamped selection system is all part of his planning as well. Zinger looked at the last Ryder Cup and said, "Nobody could have won with that team, and I won't do it if I can't win. I want to be able to control my own destiny regarding who makes the team."
changing the selection process alone show he's now way like the other two. The other two "love the game too much to change the game" kind of tripe.
Fact is, they chose Azinger because they felt he provides the best chance of anyone to win, and I couldn't agree more. He'll upturn no stone to make this team a winner.
Anyway, the bantering is fun, but let's face it, win, loose or draw it's just an exposition a notch above the Shark Shootout.
If the USA are to win the next Ryder Cup - then Azinger needs to be allowed to pick All the players.
Drop Mikelson and Woods - that should work.
When did the Ryder Cup once again become important to yanks? Hangover over? And, how many strokes did Zinger negotiate for you guys to make it interesting?
Here's a better question: When will winning majors become more important to you Euros? Based on your brethren's collective performance since Paul Lawrie's fluke in 1999, it would indicate non interest.
Guess Sergio will always have the cup...LOL.
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