Azinger gives the U.S. a shot

LOUISVILLE, KY. -- Paul Azinger is not captain of a sinking ship. He is in charge of salvaging a submerged vessel, the U.S.S. Yankee Doodle Dud.

It has fallen to Azinger to do what others could not -- find a way for the Americans to get their hands back on the 17-inch, 4-pound Ryder Cup trophy that has belonged to Europe for too long.

There is no manual on how to be a successful Ryder Cup captain. Curtis Strange failed in 2002 not because he back-loaded his Sunday singles lineup, but because almost no American played well the final day.

Hal Sutton's bravado backfired when he put Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson together. Two years ago, Tom Lehman had his players sing college fight songs in the team room. Bad idea. Worse result.

On the flip side, Jack Nicklaus' grandfatherly touch has made the Americans practically unbeatable in the Presidents Cup, where the pressure is dialed so far back it's difficult to compare it to what will go on starting this morning at Valhalla Golf Club.

So it has been left this time to Azinger, who was given the freedom to restructure the qualifying system in hopes of getting the hottest players. His new rules gave him four captain's picks last month, and while he likes the guys he added -- J.B. Holmes, Steve Stricker, Chad Campbell and Hunter Mahan -- some, including NBC analyst Johnny Miller, say he would have four different guys.

Azinger doesn't care.

He's a tough guy, full of conviction and passion. He will captain the way he played, with an eye on getting it done, not how it looks. If he is half as effective as a captain as he is at foosball, the Americans could win in a rout.

Azinger was one of the best players of his generation until a bout with cancer interrupted his career. With a homemade grip, a flat swing and short game from the gods, he was relentless on the course.

In his last Ryder Cup appearance as a player, Azinger left the stage by holing a bunker shot on the 18th hole at The Belfrey (England) in 2002, to salvage a tie with Niclas Fasth and, for the moment, sustain American's dying hopes. It was as much will as skill.

When he stepped into the television booth with Nick Faldo, now his European Ryder Cup counterpart, Azinger was sharp, insightful and not afraid to speak his mind.

In the run-up to this Ryder Cup, Azinger and Faldo have been the most visible captains ever. They've played golf and poker against each other, had a fly-fishing contest and lobbed gentle barbs back and forth across the Atlantic.

Faldo's greatest asset has always been his icy coolness, and you get the sense that's how he is handling his European team, understanding they know how to win.

Azinger runs on fire. He has refused to be pulled into tabloid storms so loved by some British papers, to the point he's been borderline rude when he hasn't liked the question coming from a reporter with an accent.

Consider this exchange this week when Azinger was asked by British reporters about comments attributed to Faldo saying Azinger regretted having three vice captains.

"Did you hear him say it?" Azinger asked his questioner.

"I did, actually," the reporter said.

"Did you ask him?" Azinger followed.

No, the reporter said.

"Who asked him? Did someone hear him say it?" Azinger said.

People heard him say it and reported it, the writer countered.

"Did you hear him say it?" Azinger fired back.

"I question whether he said it and, if he did say it, it's completely not true."

Next question.

With six rookies, the underdog role and no Tiger Woods to face a European team everyone considers the favorite, Azinger faces a supreme challenge.

"What difference does the past make to us?" he asked. "I don't care about the past."

This time, Azinger believes, will be different.