Ryder Cup Captains

Each of the Ryder Cup teams is managed by a non-playing captain selected for his match-play experience and golfing pedigree. While the captains do not play a direct role in the action on the fairways, they make a crucial contribution to their team by determining team selections for each round of play.

The appointment of the Ryder Cup captains for each of the teams is often controversial, with the players, selectors and golf fans often favouring different candidates. This means the captains and their decisions are under constant scrutiny during the Ryder Cup, and that the captains often take the fall for unsuccessful performances by their teams.

Nick Faldo

Ryder Cup Appearances: 11
Ryder Cup Wins: 4
Wins in Majors: 6

Nick Faldo is the captain of the European Ryder Cup team in 2008. Faldo was something of an automatic nomination for the position given his extensive experience in the Ryder Cup and his excellent knowledge of the game.

Faldo holds the record for most points scored by a player in the Ryder Cup, and is also the record holder for most appearances as a player in Ryder Cup tournaments. Faldo’s Ryder Cup career spanned two decades, and saw the European team transformed from the whipping boys of the tournament into serious Ryder Cup contenders.

Faldo’s biggest challenge at the Ryder Cup is team selection. With several traditional Ryder Cup favourites out of form in 2008, Faldo has been left with some tough decisions over whether to pick inexperienced form players or to select those out of form players who have performed well at the Ryder Cup in the past.

Paul Azinger

Ryder Cup Appearances: 4
Ryder Cup Wins: 3
Wins in Majors: 1

Paul Azinger will captain the United States team at the 2008 Ryder Cup tournament. Azinger was selected based on his excellent Ryder Cup record, which saw him lose the trophy only once in four outings. During his career Azinger was recognised for his consistent play and determination in the face of adversity, ranking in the world top 10 for 300 weeks between 1988 and 1996.

Azinger faces several challenges going into the 2008 Ryder Cup. While his team virtually selects itself, Azinger will go into the tournament without the services of world number one Tiger Woods, a key member of the US Ryder Cup side in the last decade.

The US Ryder Cup captain will also know that his players have generally been outplayed by their European counterparts at this year’s major championships and world golf championships , and that a significant turnaround in form will be required to beat a European team packed with form golfers.