Race is on for Kentucky

If Tom Lehman faced a difficult task going into the K Club, then Paul Azinger's one for next September is twice as tricky. Lehman appeared to be the polar opposite to the tub-thumping Hal Sutton - intelligent, astute and more than a match for Ian Woosnam - but both American skippers fell on their sword, crashing to embarrassing record nine-point defeats. That made it
three on the bounce and five in the past six meetings.

The reason for the 2006 mauling, much the same as the previous victories, was simple: Europe soundly outplayed their opponents, winning all five series of matches for the first time in Ireland, and never looked like relinquishing their firm grip on the famous trophy.

So how will Azinger go about becoming just the second successful American captain in 15 years at Valhalla?

Firstly he will have more say in his line-up for Kentucky than any of the previous incumbents, with four picks compared to the usual two of the past two decades, and there will be no announcement the day after the US PGA Championship. Now Azinger will have until the Monday a week before the start of the competition, allowing even more time to select the in-form players.

The emphasis will also be on high finishes in the Majors and money won rather than the previous ill thought-out version of rewarding players for coming inside the top 10. Then, a player could finish 11th at the Masters and get nothing, while another could finish ninth in the Chrysler Classic of Tucson and advance his cause. On top of that only 58 per cent of the points available were shared out in 2006 with a collection of overseas stars packing out the top 10 at various tournaments.

Now, one point will be awarded for every ,000 earned in this year's Majors and next year's PGA Tour events, with the 2008 Majors getting double points and, events played opposite the big four and World Golf Championship events, will receive half the usual allowance. In 2006 John Rollins almost sneaked on to the side for Ireland by capturing the BC Open title, held the same week as our Open Championship - that will not be allowed to happen again.

So it all boils down to money and form with the real race being run over 12 and not 24 months, which is a better start than last time, but the 1993 US PGA champion is also looking to benefit from other areas.

In this respect he has plumped for two former captains as his assistants as well as Olin Browne, someone he refers to as 'one of the smartest men I know'. Floyd and Stockton have been away from the Ryder Cup scene since 1989, when Floyd grabbed a half at The Belfry, and 1991 when Stockton oversaw a thrilling win by the narrowest of margins at Kiawah. Browne is
there to provide a contemporary insight despite being 48 years of age and struggling to retain his card for next season.

Tiger Woods has stated that the best way would be to have 12 picks, Chris DiMarco would like to see the world rankings having more of a say in proceedings but, whatever the line-up, the hosts will need to perform better as a team and the most promising signs of a change in fortunes came at the recent Presidents Cup.

There, Hunter Mahan, Lucas Glover and Woody Austin all gained invaluable experience at the top level of team golf while Steve Stricker and Charles Howell III, both missing at the K Club, were back in the American ranks and could well make their Ryder Cup bows in 2008.

Stricker's progress has been the most encouraging, rocketing up to number four in the world rankings, and Azinger will be looking to him and the likes of Arron Oberholser, Boo Weekley, Brandt Snedeker and Sean O'Hair to push hard for a debut at Valhalla.

The question of who will partner Woods is no nearer an answer judging by events in Montreal - the world number one opened with a win alongside Howell III, then teamed up with his K Club partner Jim Furyk for a crushing defeat and a comfortable victory and then got a run out with David Toms for another easy triumph.

Phil Mickelson may have found a new partner in crime though in Austin, the pair combining for a win and two halves from three outings, and Azinger could well call on Scott Verplank, already a two-time wild card, following his 100 per cent record in Canada and Toms, who dropped just a half point.

Verplank, one of the most interesting and likeable characters on the team, best summed up the new way of thinking.

"It's better than what we had. Apparently they spent some time on this and I commend them for trying to fix it. But I don't think anything is going to matter until we figure out how to play that game as a team."