In professional golf the Ryder Cup has become a time-honored tradition that spans more than 34 competitions and 77 years. In 2008 the Ryder Cup takes place in Louisville, Kentucky at the Valhalla Golf Club and American captain Paul Azinger will face off with his contemporary rival, European captain Nick Faldo. Azinger and Faldo both bring successful professional golf careers and incredible talent to the table for the 2008 Ryder Cup. Golf enthusiasts and Ryder Cup fans everywhere can expect an unforgettable competition as the American team aims to win for the first time since 1999 and the Europeans fight to maintain their reputation as Ryder Cup winners.
Paul Azinger: His Golf Career and History with the Ryder Cup Tradition
Paul Azinger is a Holyoke, Massachusetts native and currently lives in Bradenton, Florida. He attended Florida State University and began his professional golf career in 1981. Azinger achieved his first PGA TOUR victory in 1987 and received the 1987 PGA Player of the Year Award. At 46 years old Azinger has been a member of the American Ryder Cup team at four previous competitions: 1989, 1991, 1993 and 2002. At the Ryder Cup he holds a record of 5-7-3 and is the 25th American captain and the 15th PGA champion to have the honor of leading the American team in one of golf’s most exciting events. According to the PGA web site, www.pga.com. Azinger has won 14 worldwide championships since his professional golf career began in 1981, including the honor of being the PGA Champion in 1993. Azinger previously competed against Nick Faldo four times at the Ryder Cup and had a 2-0-2 record. He has never lost in singles while playing some of Europe’s best golfers. The most famous match between Azinger and Faldo happened at the Belfry in 1993. That same year, just one month after the Ryder Cup, Azinger was diagnosed with cancer, specifically non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in his right shoulder. In 1995, he was honored by the Golf Writers Association of America for maintaining his professional golf career during his bout with cancer and attained the Ben Hogan Award. After overcoming his battle with cancer he went on to become a PGA TOUR winner for the 12th time in 2000. Azinger is married and has two daughters.
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize: The Americans Plan to Win Back the Ryder Cup
The 2008 Ryder Cup will be the 37th annual competition and it will be Valhalla Golf Club’s first time hosting the historic event in Louisville, Kentucky. Valhalla has been the home of the 1996 and 2002 PGA Championships, as well as the 2004 PGA Senior Championship. Scheduled for September 19-21, 2008, in the next chapter in Ryder Cup history promises to be an exciting one. For many years the Americans dominated the Ryder Cup, but recently they have lost three in a row and five of six matches against the European team. The Americans have not been able to call themselves Ryder Cup winners since 1999. It is the hope of golf enthusiasts that the naming of Paul Azinger as captain will help the American team to once again lead in the Ryder Cup games.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Jim Ward
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