Azinger steps down as Ryder Cup captain

Paul Azinger, conqueror of Europe in this year’s Ryder Cup, will not be returning as captain of the United States in 2010 at Celtic Manor.

Azinger led the USA to its first victory in the Ryder Cup for nine years at Valhalla, beating Europe 16½ to 11½. For that reason it was widely thought that Azinger would come back to lead his team once again. But this announcement quashes those thoughts.

"All I can say is that it's not going to be me," Paul Azinger told magazine Golf Digest. "You'll find out who it is on Thursday."

Azinger was praised for the way he led the USA to victory this year. Europe had won the last two matches by record scores, but Azinger overhauled the qualification process, gave himself four captain’s picks and won without the need of a certain Tiger Woods.

The PGA of America will announce who the new captain will be later this week, with Corey Pavin seen as a likely replacement.

Pavin, who was a leading competitor during his time as a player in the Ryder Cup, was an assistant under Tom Lehman for the competition in 2006.

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