Golf: Azinger comeback complete

Paul Azinger is back in America’s Ryder Cup team eight years on from the cancer which nearly killed him and two years on from the devastating loss of his close friend Payne Stewart.

The 41-year-old was named today along with diabetic Scott Verplank as Curtis Strange’s two wild cards for The Belfry on September 28-30, with Tom Lehman the surprise omission.

Azinger was a fiery character when he played in the 1989, 1991 and 1993 matches, twice being involved in controversial matches with Seve Ballesteros.

"I’m older now and maybe more mature and wiser," said Azinger.

And, well aware of the need to put the event back on an even keel after the volatility of Boston two years ago, he added: "I’m not going to be fist-pumping in anybody’s face or anything like that.

"I didn’t do that before, but I stood my ground here or there and I am reasonably patriotic. I’m just going to try to play my best and be myself.

"You must admit that some animosity has made the Ryder Cup better. Before 1989 (his debut at The Belfry) nobody in our country cared much about it, but now it is one of the premier events in sport.

"I think the players will be on their best behaviour and maybe if they don’t sell as much alcohol things will be better outside the ropes too."

Azinger had a year out of the game after the discovery of lymphoma cancer in his shoulder, but gradually battled his way back and in the last two years started to believe he could climb his way back to the top.

That followed the death shortly after the 1999 match of Stewart, killed when the light aircraft he was in depressurized and eventually crashed.

Azinger, who might well have been vice-captain if Stewart had become captain as expected, spoke eloquently at the memorial service, even donning plus-twos and a cap to make himself look like his friend.

"Payne has left a legacy that is untouchable," said Azinger today. "I’m not carrying a torch for me - the weight of it is too heavy for me."

He returned to American colours when he was given a wild card into last year’s Presidents Cup, but the Ryder Cup represents the pinnacle of his comeback.

Playing Ballesteros in singles at The Belfry in 1997 they had a disagreement as early as the second green over the changing of a ball, then Ballesteros felt Azinger got away with a wrong drop on the last hole.

Two years later at Kiawah Island - the infamous "War on the Shore" - Azinger and Chip Beck were playing Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal in the opening foursomes.

The two Spaniards spotted their opponents changing to a different compression ball between holes, which had been made against the rules prior to the match.

They raised it at the turn and after both captains became involved the match went on and Ballesteros and Olazabal came from behind to win.

Azinger called Ballesteros "the king of gamesmanship" and two months later Ballesteros said the American team were "11 nice guys and Paul Azinger".

Time has proved a healer, though. Azinger commented today: "Seve has as much spirit as I do and as much international pride as I do.

"We had those issues and it kind of blew up and got out of hand, but we were both trying to protect our interests and to do the best we could."

Strange admitted that telling Lehman he was out was the toughest part of his job, especially knowing that the 1996 Open champion’s wife Melissa had a still-born child last month.

"They are having a tough time, but the bottom line is that Tom has not been playing well," said Strange.

Lehman has missed his last three halfway cuts and was knocked out of the 10th and last automatic spot in the United States when David Toms won the US PGA to leap from 14th to fifth.

He was fiercely criticised by Europe’s captain Sam Torrance for running onto the green when Justin Leonard holed his 45-foot putt two years ago, even though Jose Maria Olazabal still had a putt to keep the game alive.

Strange insisted he had taken his decision purely on golfing terms and not to keep Lehman, labelled "The Beast of Brookline", out of the spotlight again.

Azinger finished only 22nd in the table, but Strange said: "Every player I asked about my picks mentioned Paul’s name.

"He is a good leader, a motivator and he will be good in the locker room, but I’ve mainly picked him for his game. I was just looking for the best two players I could find."