U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger (right) will announce his four captains picks two days after his counterpart, Europe's Nick Faldo. (Photo: Getty Images)

Azinger to announce four captains picks Sept. 2 in NYC

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger will get a little more time to make his four captains picks. In fact, Azinger will announce his picks after his counterpart, Nick Faldo.

January 30, 2008

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- United States Ryder Cup Captain Paul Azinger will complete his 12-member team with four Captain's picks that he will make public on Tues., Sept. 2, at a news conference in New York City. The 37th Ryder Cup will be contested Sept. 19-21, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

The Captain's picks mark the culmination of a points system that began with golf's four major championships in 2007, through all "official" events in 2008 from Jan. 1 through Aug. 11, the day following the 90th PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Mich.

Azinger will be the first U.S. Captain to make four Captain's selections to a 12-member team. The Captain's selections were increased from two to four players in November 2006.

European captain Nick Faldo will complete his squad with two wild cards, which he will announce on Aug. 31, allowing Azinger two days to analyze the European team before making his picks.

The U.S. points system is based upon the following:

 -- Prize money earned in the 2007 major championships (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship -- one point for every $1,000 earned).

 -- Prize money earned in "official events" in 2008 from Jan. 1 through Aug. 11 (one point for every $1,000 earned, excluding the major championships and events played opposite major championships and opposite World Golf Championships).

 -- Prize money earned in the 2008 major championships (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, PGA Championship (two points for every $1,000 earned)

 -- Prize money earned in 2008 events played opposite the major championships and opposite World Golf Championship events between Jan. 1 and Aug. 11 (one-half point for every $1,000 earned).

With the 2006 points system having been in effect prior to the 2008 points system being announced, all players who made the cut in all official events from Aug. 27 through Nov. 5, 2006, were awarded one-quarter point for every $1,000 earned.

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