The Golf Watch

Rome: Pavin pick is a bad move

I hadn't heard that many mixed reviews over the Corey Pavin selection, until I caught Thursday's edition of Jim Rome is Burning on ESPN.

Rome's major gripe is that the United States team had struggled for so many years before Paul Azinger was captain, that not bringing him back is non-sensical.  Rome said:

Look, I know the powers that be like to spread it around.  They don’t want to have repeat captains.  They must also not like winning because there’s no need to fix something that isn’t broken…Zinger had as much to do with winning, maybe more, than anybody swinging a club.  He took a group of disinterested, flat lining mercenaries, and he turned them into a bunch of crazed dogs…He earned the right to defend that title, he earned the right to stay on as long as he wants.

As for the Pavin selection, Rome indicates that it will be nearly impossible for Pavin to live up to what Azinger did this year:

He’s (Pavin) never been the most dynamic guy on tour if you know what I mean…You never want to be the guy following the guy, and that’s what Pavin is.  It’s a bad move.

Pavin gets Ryder Cup nod

As expected, Corey Pavin was named the 2010 United States Ryder Cup captain earlier today. A choked up Pavin told the press that he had always dreamed of becoming captain.

Interestingly, in an interview with Inga Hammond of The Golf Channel (pictured left), Pavin revealed that he received news of the selection from Jim Remy on Nov. 24.  That's two and a half weeks ago.  Kudos to those who kept this one under wraps for so long!

Reports: Pavin is likely to be next Ryder Cup captain

Now that Paul Azinger is out of the running for the 2010 U.S. States Ryder Cup captain bid, the focus has shifted to the next most likely candidate, Corey Pavin.

Bob Buttitta of the Ventura County Star is one of several writers who suspects that Pavin will be the man for the job:

Corey Pavin's fierce competitive nature helped him rise to the rank of golf's No. 1 player in the mid-1990s.

Indications are that the Oxnard native will have a chance to try to instill that same type of win-at-all-cost mentality in the members of the 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup team.

The PGA of America will announce the new captain on Thursday, and it appears it will be Pavin.

Pavin "still grinding"

According to Columbus Dispatch columnist/blogger Todd Jones, 47-year old and former U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin is a "grinder trying to find his game."  Pavin no longer has his 10-year exempt status since winning the U.S. Open in 1995 at Shinnecock Hills.  Therefore, he will try and qualify for the tournament next week.  Read the full entry here.