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Welcome to the team Ryder Cup spots go to Azinger, Verplank
Updated: Monday August 20, 2001 9:18 PM
DULUTH, Ga. (AP) -- Paul Azinger is returning to the Ryder Cup for the first time since he was diagnosed with cancer in 1993, joining rookie Scott Verplank as the two captain's picks announced Monday by Curtis Strange. "I knew what I was missing all these years, and I'm glad to be back," Azinger said. Strange became the first U.S. captain to select a rookie in taking Verplank, a former U.S. Amateur champion with a comeback story of his own -- three elbow surgeries that forced him to go through Q-school to get back on tour. Verplank finished 14th in the Ryder Cup standings. The top 10 qualify, with two captain's picks filling out the team that will try to retain the cup against Europe on Sept. 28-30 at The Belfry in England. Strange passed over Tom Lehman, who got bumped out of the top 10 when David Toms won the PGA Championship on Sunday.
Lehman has never lost a singles match in his three Ryder Cup appearances, and played the leadoff match in 1999, when the United States staged the greatest comeback since the Ryder Cup began in 1927, making up a four-point deficit on the final day. Fittingly, Strange is taking two comeback players as his captain's picks. Azinger was the heart of the American team a decade ago, a fiery leader who battled the gamesmanship of Seve Ballesteros and the strong play of Nick Faldo. Even with the 1993 matches already decided, he fought Faldo to a draw for pride alone. Two months after the matches, he was diagnosed with lymphoma in his left shoulder and spent the next three Ryder Cups working for television or watching from home. His comeback began last year at the Sony Open, where he won for the first time since the '93 PGA Championship. "Paul Azinger was, I think, an obvious choice," European captain Sam Torrance said. "He has a good record in the Ryder Cup and has played at The Belfry before, so he has experience of the course. Overall, I feel it is a very strong team, enhanced by two good picks." Azinger finished 22nd in the Ryder Cup standings, the lowest position of a captain's pick since Strange (No. 23) was chosen by good friend Lanny Wadkins in 1995. Strange went 0-3 in his matches that year.
Verplank, who wears an insulin pump for diabetes he has had since he was 9, was one of the most promising stars when he won the U.S. Amateur in 1984 and became the first amateur in 29 years to win a PGA Tour event at the '85 Western Open. He won the Buick Open in his third year as a pro, but then injuries set him back. Trying to play through pain, he had to miss most of the '91 and '92 seasons after elbow surgery, and another operation on his elbow followed in 1996. He had to return to Q-school in 1997, but was named Comeback Player of the Year in 1998. "To come back from something like that shows a lot of intestinal fortitude," Strange said. Verplank won the Reno-Tahoe Open a year ago, his first PGA Tour victory in 12 years. Instead of defending his title this week, his spot on the Ryder Cup team gets him into the NEC Invitational at Firestone. Verplank closed with a 67 at the PGA Championship to tie for seventh, which Strange said helped his chances. "I'm proud I played that well under what I thought was the biggest round of the year for me," Verplank said. "I'll be ready to play." The selection of Verplank means the U.S. team will take three rookies to The Belfry -- Toms and Stewart Cink, who finished 10th in the standings, have never played in a Ryder Cup. Strange said experience was important, but not everything. "I've said all along I was looking for the two with the biggest heart, the most game, length in the game to dominate a course or a player in match play ... who can handle an atmosphere that will be different than anything they've seen before," he said. The 10 players who automatically qualified are Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Mark Calcavecchia, Toms, Davis Love III, Hal Sutton, Scott Hoch, Jim Furyk and Cink. Europe's team will be decided in three weeks. Lehman missed the cut in the PGA Championship, squandering a chance to stay in the top 10 and make his fourth consecutive Ryder Cup team. Steve Lowery finished third Sunday, two strokes short of playing his way onto the team as a 40-year-old rookie. Chris DiMarco made two double bogeys in his round of 71, which cost him a spot on the team. Strange also passed over Brad Faxon, who has won twice in the last 13 months and has played on two Ryder Cup teams. He finished 16th in the standings. Strange said Lehman was the toughest call. "He just hasn't played very well lately," Strange said
Lehman hasn't won since the Phoenix Open last year, and has only
one top-10 finish on tour since February.
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