'Zinger submits Ryder Cup roster for American team

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger has finalized his team for the 2008 Ryder Cup to be contested in Kentucky.

Azinger's choices as captain, which allows non-qualified players to be selected for the team, included Chad Campbell, Steve Stricker (pictured left), J.B. Holmes, and Hunter Mahan.

The rest of America's team will be comprised of Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, Ben Curtis (pictured right), Jim Furyk, and Book Weekley.

Of course, this team is missing one player who qualified but will not be attending as a playing-member due to his injury: Tiger Woods.

Stricker finished ninth in Ryder Cup points, which left him one spot away from making the team after a stellar performance at the PGA Championship by Ben Curtis.

Homes is a Kentucky native who has extensive experience with Valhalla Country Club, which will certainly be an asset in addition to his famous long drives.

Clearly, Mahan overcame a major mental lapse when he chose to criticize the PGA America for a number of reasons, but claimed that the PGA did not care about the American team. Further, he asserted that the PGA was only in the Ryder Cup game to make money. However, Mahan apologized to Azinger and the PGA, which appears to have been enough to make the team.

Campbell was ranked 20th in Ryder Cup points, which makes his being selected somewhat confusing. Azinger, in selecting Campbell, passed former Ryder Cup stars like Scott Verplank (pictured left) and major champion Zack Johnson up.