First eight decided for US
- Monday, 11 August 2008
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Following the USPGA Championship eight of Paul Azinger’s 12 men for the Ryder Cup at Valhalla are now known.
After finishing in a tie for seventh at Oakland Hills, Phil Mickelson finished as the leading points scorer on the US list. He will play in his seventh consecutive Ryder Cup at Valhalla.
Finishing tied for second in the USPGA, Ben Curtis has played his way into the side and will make his first Ryder Cup appearance in September. Boo Weekley and Anthony Kim will also make their debuts. Paul Azinger has played down the importance of experience in the event. “I've said this all along," he said, "to me, experience is important but it is also overrated. I mean, anyone who has played Ryder Cup in the last six Ryder Cups has experience getting beat. So, I'm not looking for experience."
The eight Americans who’ll definitely feature at Valhalla had mixed fortunes at Oakland Hills. Curtis was best placed in second and Mickelson was seventh. Kenny Perry withdrew with an eye injury, Cink missed the cut while Furyk, Kim, Leonard and Weekley played the weekend but didn’t feature.
Azinger will announce his four Captain’s picks on September 2.
The European side is also taking shape following Oakland Hills. Harrington moves to the top of the pile and Sergio Garcia also climbs the list. Justin Rose’s spot looks a little safer after finishing the week in a tie for ninth.
The automatic qualifiers for Europe will be confirmed after the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles contested in the last week of August.
US Team
Phil Mickelson
Stewart Cink
Kenny Perry
Jim Furyk
Anthony Kim
Justin Leonard
Ben Curtis
Boo Weekley
European Team after USPGA
Padraig Harrington
Lee Westwood
Sergio Garcia
Henrik Stenson
Robert Karlsson
Miguel Angel Jimenez
Graeme McDowell
Justin Rose
Oliver Wilson
Soren Hansen
