Azinger agony over wild cards

THINGS are starting to look bleaker and bleaker for US Ryder Cup hopes as the final teams are due to be announced at the end of the month.

Recent European performances in key tournaments suggest that momentum is swinging their way as US captain Paul Azinger considers which four wild-cards to add to his eight automatic selections in an effort to win back the Cup.

Azinger has a whole bunch of rookies, some old and some young, next in line from the US points table and he has a huge dilemma whether to pick them or go for those who have experienced the special pressure of a Ryder Cup match.

All of a sudden, he's wishing that he had Tiger Woods back on board as his most obvious choices from the standings lack experience, form and big-game reputation.

Even a one-legged Woods would be preferable to the likes of Steve Stricker, Woody Austin or the outspoken Hunter Mahan. Rocco Mediate is the first recognised name, although one outstanding performance in this year's US Open hardly makes up for his lack of Ryder Cup know-how.

My feeling is that Davis Love III, recently back from injury and one of the US leading points scorers, must play.

As for the others, Azinger has stated that he will base his choices on current form.

"So, I'm looking for guys that are playing well. It's as simple as that," he said. "And, if it's an experienced player playing well, then I think that's fantastic."

David Toms, another Cup veteran, has a chance as he finds his game at just the right time, while Zach Johnson is producing some good scores and did appear in 2006.

No-one is really firing on all cylinders, though, and Azinger must be praying that the likes of the hugely talented Ryder Cup rookies Sean O'Hair, DJ Trahan and Brent Snedeker produce performances of note over the next couple of weeks.

Stricker, who was unfortunate to miss out on an automatic spot, may be selected on his showings in the two most recent Majors, but the flamboyant Woody Austin, who has ironically lost all colour on the course, may not be so lucky.

Mahan has no hope following his criticism of the event, while Jeff Quinney, Bart Bryant and the big-hitting JB.

Holmes would have to win at The Barclays or The Deutsche Bank Classic to make the side. Good results at those two tournaments will help to determine the final four, but Azinger and his assistants may well have Love III and Toms pencilled in already.

Scott Verplank is another option based on his four wins and one loss in the 2002 and 2006 matches, but the seriousness of the tie suggests that there won't be any really big surprises.

It looks like The Continentals have little to fear, chasing their fourth straight victory and full of the confidence generated by Padraig Harrington's two consecutive Major victories in The British Open and USPGA Championship and top 10 finishes by a number of the team.

Even Carl Pettersson, from Sweden, who is unlikely to figure, managed to win in the US last week to add to the growing tide. Sergio Garcia has hit form at just the right time too, playing his way into the European side to allow Nick Faldo some scope when selecting his two wild cards.

With only two events left to count towards Ryder Cup points, the 10 assured of a place on the European team currently look like Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Sergio Gracia, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Oliver Wilson and Soren Hansen.

The latter four will be making their first appearance unless someone makes a late charge to vault them in the standings. Team Europe captain Nick Faldo will name his two wild-card selections at the end of The Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles on August 31 and, if things don't change then, due to Luke Donald's injury, the two can only realistically come from four names - Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Darren Clarke or Colin Montgomerie.

Paul Casey looks the one certainty and, while sentimentality would favour either Monty or Clarke, Poulter may get the nod due to his great form all season and affinity for golf in the US.

TEAM US: (already selected) Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, Ben Curtis and Boo Weekley.

Four wild cards to be selected on September 2 from: Steve Stricker, Woody Austin, DJ Trahan, Hunter Mahan, Sean O'Hair, Rocco Mediate, Brent Snedeker, Zach Johnson, JB Holmes, Jeff Quinney, Bart Bryant, Scott Verplank, David Toms and Davis Love III.

TEAM EUROPE: (based on current standings) Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Oliver Wilson and Soren Hansen.

Two wild cards to be selected on August 31 from: Paul Casey, Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie and Ian Poulter.

The 2008 Ryder Cup will be played between September 19-21 at the Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, Kentucky, US.