Corey goes four it with vice-captains

Pavin selects foursome as Ryder Cup assistants

US captain Corey Pavin has named Tom Lehman, Jeff Sluman, Davis Love III and Paul Goydos as vice-captains for this year’s Ryder Cup.

Pavin hopes that, like Paul Azinger before him, he can use their collective array of golfing experience to retain the trophy at Celtic Manor.

“I have hand-picked my four assistants because of their intelligence, experience and their ability to express their won opinions to me without hesitation,” said Pavin.

“Each of my assistants have unique perspectives to bring to the table which I believe will bring a great balance of leadership.”

See below for a profile of each of Pavin’s vice-captains.

Tom Lehman

Age: 50

PGA Tour wins: 5

Major titles: 1996 Open Championship

Ryder Cup experience: Three playing appearances (1995-99), one appearance as captain (2004)

Ryder Cup match record: 5 won, 3 lost, 2 drawn

Corey says: “Tom brings the experience of being a captain – and a captain overseas. We will shoot around ideas.”

Verdict: As a former captain himself, Lehman will be Pavin’s right hand man and collectively they will formulate plan of action for Team USA. As the USA suffered a heavy 18.5-9.5 defeat to Europe under his charge in 2004, Lehman will be desperate to atone for any leadership flaws he may have displayed Oakland Hills.

Davis Love III

Age: 45

PGA Tour wins: 20

Major titles: 1997 PGA Championship

Ryder Cup experience: Six playing appearances (1993-2004)

Ryder Cup match record: 9 won, 12 lost, 5 drawn

Corey says: “Tom and Davis have been long term friends of mine. Davis and I were on the US team in 1993 that brought home the cup from the Belfry – the last tome the USA won on foreign soil.”

Verdict: David Love still competes at the highest level on the PGA Tour and still harbours ambitions of making it to Celtic Manor as a member of the playing squad. More than any of the other assistants he will be able to relate to the players. His wealth of Ryder Cup experience is immense and he could be a valuable ‘go to’ man for anyone suffering under the pressure.

Jeff Sluman

Age: 52

PGA Tour wins: 6

Major titles: 1988 PGA Championship

Ryder Cup experience: N/A

Ryder Cup match record: N/A

Corey says: “Jeff is a major champion, a seasoned veteran who has been a success on both the regular and the Champions Tour.”

Verdict: He may have no Ryder Cup experience but Sluman was vice-captain to Jack Nicklaus in the President’s Cup on three occasions and is bound to have learned a thing or two about how to inspire a team from the Golden Bear.

Paul Goydos

Age: 45

PGA Tour wins: 2

Major titles: None

Ryder Cup experience: N/A

Ryder Cup match record: N/A

Corey says: Paul is well-liked, a fine player and a good judge of talent and well respected over the 18 years he has been on tour.”

Verdict: Famous as being one of the jokers of the pack, Goydos certainly enjoys immense popularity among his contemporaries. However, with little team match experience and only a modest professional career behind him, he may not command the same degree of respect as other possible assistants may have. Having someone to crack the jokes while results are going in your favour is a great tool to have in maintaining team morale, but if the tide turns against the USA, Goydos is unlikely to be the man to inspire his team on to victory.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered