U.S. captain Corey Pavin appointed Tom Lehman, Davis Love III, Jeff Sluman and Paul Goydos on Wednesday as his assistants for this year’s Ryder Cup against Europe.
COREY PAVIN. Picture © Getty ImagesLehman, the 2006 skipper at the K Club and British Open champion in 1996, played on three Ryder Cup teams with an overall win-loss-half record of 5-3-2.
Love, winner of the 1997 PGA Championship, has appeared in the biennial match on six occasions, compiling a 9-12-5 record.
Sluman, the 1988 PGA champion, and PGA Tour journeyman Goydos have never competed in a Ryder Cup but they are both veterans on the U.S. circuit who are highly respected by their peers.
“I have hand-picked my four assistants because of their intelligence, experience and their ability to express their own opinions to me without hesitation,” Pavin told a news conference at Riviera Country Club.
“Each of my assistants have unique perspectives to bring to the table which I believe will bring a great balance of leadership to Team USA.
“Tom and Davis have been long-time friends of mine,” added Pavin, who was an assistant to Lehman at the 2006 Ryder Cup.
“Tom and I joined for his first Ryder Cup match and Davis and I were on the U.S. team in 1993 that brought home the Cup from The Belfry—the last time the USA won on foreign soil.
“Jeff is a major champion, a seasoned veteran who has been a success on both the regular and the Champions Tour. 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.
“I will lean on them for advice, and I am delighted that they have accepted to be a part of our team this year.”
The 2010 Ryder Cup will take place at Celtic Manor resort in Wales from Oct. 1-3 when the U.S. will defend the trophy they won by 16-1/2 points to 11-1/2 at Valhalla Golf Club in 2008.
