Cory Pavin is Formally Selected as the 2010 American Ryder Cup Team Captain

On Thursday morning at Tavern on the Green restaurant in New York City, the PGA of America formally announced their selection of Cory Pavin as the 2010 American Ryder Cup team captain.

Pavin has had a decorated career with 15 PGA Tour wins including a win at the 1995 US Open.

With an 8-5-0 record in 13 Ryder Cup matches, Pavin is regarded by many as one of the best American Ryder Cup players in recent times.

Pavin also served as one of Tom Lehman's assistant captain for the 2006 American Ryder Cup team, a team that was trounced by the Europeans 18 1/2 to 9 1/2 at the K-Club in Kildare, Ireland.

Throughout his career, Pavin has always been a fierce competitor, a quality that will absolutely be needed when leading his team into Celtic Manner to face a highly talented European team and a hostile crowd, both of whom will be out in full force looking for payback from Valhalla.

Pavin’s Ryder Cup record and experience, combined with his reputation as one of the fiercest competitors in the game should bode well for his 2010 captaincy. 

However, no matter what Pavin does, he is bound to find himself in a position that will face an immense amount of scrutiny over the next two years. 

Pavin has been handed the colossal challenge of trying to follow a captain, Paul Azinger, who triumphantly brought the Cup back to America for the first time in nearly a decade; and is now hailed as somewhat of a hero amongst American golf fans.

There were many, including several members of the 2008 Ryder Cup team, who strongly lobbied for the PGA of America to bring Azinger back in 2010 and change their historical stance on never selecting a captain for two consecutive terms.

Azinger single handedly rewrote an antiquated selection process and managed to create an atmosphere of team unity not seen on an American Ryder Cup team in quite some time. 

Azinger’s accomplishments as captain were rewarded with a significant outpouring of love from his players and fans alike. 

Pavin will indeed have some large shoes to fill when as he steps in to replace Azinger as the 2010 Ryder Cup team captain.

From the get-go Pavin will be second guessed and compared to Azinger in every decision he makes as captain. 

However, if there is anyone with the right qualities to overcome this immensely tough challenge, it is a man from Southern California who may be small is stature, but the way in which he seemingly willed his way to the top of the PGA Tour in the late 80's and 90's shows that he is large in heart.