Back to the future

IF we are a long way from knowing the identities of the 24 players who will compete in the next Ryder Cup we can already predict the atmosphere which will exist between the teams at Valhalla.

The reason? Because we know the names of the men who will captain Europe and America in the latest installment of the biennial matches. And, as is the custom, the teams will reflect the characters, personalities, qualities and foibles of their respective leaders.

The golf world can therefore expect the most explosive, niggly, feisty and competitive Ryder Cup since the infamous weekend at Brookline. After the scenes in 1999 there was a concerted effort on both sides to return the contest to the spirit in which it was intended. Two genial Celts and a mannerly German did their bit for Europe while America opted for the dopey, then the barmy and finally just the plain nice.

Get ready for things to change though. And while the single-minded, ruthless Nick Faldo will defend Europe's corner intensely the real story is who the USPGA have selected as their leader ­- Paul Azinger. It's fair to say 'Zinger', as he's widely known in pro circles, has a colourful history spanning a long and successful playing career which included four inflammatory Ryder Cup appearances.

The son of a retired US Air Force lieutenant-colonel, Azinger has taken his patriotic, right-wing, supposedly God-fearing attitudes and personality into his on-course demeanour and actions. This is a man who, after his Ryder Cup debut in 1989 prompted Seve Ballesteros to describe the opposition as "11 nice guys and Paul Azinger".

The Spaniard continues to be riled to this day by Azinger refusing to allow him to change his scuffed ball -­ as is customary -­ and by a contentious drop, the American secured for himself at the climax of their singles match. The pair crossed swords again two years later ­ in the midst of the 'War on the Shore' he played a full part in creating - ­ when Jose Maria Olazabal
noticed on the 10th tee of the Spanish duo's foursomes match against Azinger and Chip Beck that the Americans were using a ball of different compression than they had started with.

The 'mix-up', which would have helped the US pair in terms of ball control in the wind, had occurred on the 7th hole.

"Azinger denied what happened, but once he found out that to lose a hole you had to find out on that particular hole, he admitted it," revealed Ballesteros. The expression on Olazabal's face as he looked at Azinger was not one of admiration.

These episodes,­ as well as claiming Ballesteros was prone to coughing as his opponent was over his ball,­ led Azinger, without a hint of irony, to described the European legend as "the king of gamesmanship". And when he heard his adversary was none too keen on the American's style he retorted: "The king of gamesmanship doesn't like me? Good. A feather in my
cap!"

His eyes were never more steely or thin than when representing his country and he admitted he measured his career, not in Majors (he has one, the US PGA), but in his Ryder Cup scraps with Ballesteros, Olazabal and Faldo. His battle with the Englishman was born in a Major though, the 1987 Open which Faldo won with 18 pars on the last day before watching Azinger, one ahead with two to play, find sand on both 17 and 18 at Muirfield and make bogey on both.

"Paul donated that British Open to him," Azinger's father Ralph admitted, "and what does Faldo say? `Tough luck, old boy.' Maybe that was nice British talk, but those words grated on Paul. He wanted to make Faldo eat his words."

He did so to an extent and not until six years later when Azinger edged out Faldo by a stroke and then defeating Greg Norman in a play-off to win the PGA Championship at Inverness. The following month, back at The Belfry, they stood level after 13 holes in what appeared to be the singles match that would hold the key to the Ryder Cup. Faldo then made a hole-in-one to predictably explosive roars rolled the length of hole and beyond. "I didn't even go up to the green," Azinger recalled. "I went to the 15th tee and waited for Faldo. They're still cheering, he throws the ball into the crowd. I'm getting a drink, sitting around. It never fazed me. Birdied the next hole."

Before Azinger and Faldo finished the 16th hole, events in earlier matches meant Europe retained the cup and made the last pairing anticlimactic. Still, one down at the 18th, when it mattered only to Azinger, he made a seven-foot birdie putt to halve the match.

Over a decade on at The Belfry, Azinger again saved himself from singles defeat when he holed the most unlikely of bunker shots to half with a distraught Niclas Fasth. His subsequent rigoruous display of (particularly unco-ordinated) high-fiving with his caddie was as at best cringeworthy.

It nevertheless maintained his unbeaten Ryder Cup singles record although he does have an indistinguished foursomes and fourball tally. Possibly Azinger's most shaky moment came when Europe were not around to fire his patriotic fervour and cloud his judgement. In 1991, he was disqualified from the Doral-Ryder Open for improving his stance in a water hazard.
Hardly the actions of a seasoned professional.

Azinger, an avid poker player, is not ALL bad though. While bravely recovering from cancer in the mid-1990s he used his plight to highlight the battle of all those suffering from the disease and did much to champion the search for alternative cures. The committed Christian was also chosen to give the eulogy at Payne Stewart's funeral.

To be asked to perform such an honour for such a great man as Stewart says something for his character. Now 47, he spends much of his time in the ABC commentary booth alongside none other than Faldo. They make an entertaining duo. As he watches, observes and digests the action on the PGA Tour this season he will do so with greater purpose, knowing at the end of it he has four, rather than two captain's picks to make.

In addition to inspiring Tiger Woods and co ­ many of whom have expressed pleasure at his appointment ­ Azinger will also be responsible for choosing a third of his team. He will affect a Ryder Cup like no American captain before. His choice of vice-captains is also noteworthy. Dave Stockton is one, captain of the US side at the 'War on the Shore' who did little if anything to calm down the frenzied likes of Azinger, Corey Pavin and Steve Pate ­the latter pair donning camouflage caps at one point just as the Gulf War was taking place.

Stockton is the less brash of the two. Ray Floyd is his second assistant, known as one of the hardest men ever to play on tour. The autobiographies of Faldo and Sandy Lyle confirm as much.

Whether Azinger's own combination of fire, patriotism and passion can stop Europe's recent successful run will be one part of a fascinating Ryder Cup. Faldo for his part has not had his problems to seek, 10 months before a ball is struck after Paul McGinley stepped down as vice-captain. Former skipper Sam Torrance rubbed salt into the wound with a stinging rebuke for Faldo's timing and selection.

Europe's new leader now must find an alternative vice-captain alongside Olazabal. There were never great friends as players, but might it be worth putting in a call to the home of Severiano Ballesteros to see if he fancies the job?