US Captain Paul Azinger has named former Ryder Cup Captains Raymond Floyd and Dave Stockton, along with Tour regular Olin Browne, to serve as assistants for The 2008 United States Ryder Cup Team.

The trio, announced at a news conference at Southern Hills Country Club, will be on duty during The 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, from September 19-21.

Floyd, 64, a four time Major Champion, is a veteran of eight Ryder Cup Teams, posting a 12-16-3 record and serving as Captain in 1989. He won one of his two USPGA Championships at Southern Hills in 1982.

Stockton, also 64, won USPGA Championships in 1970 at Southern Hills and in 1976 at Congressional Country Club. He served on two Ryder Cup Teams, compiling a 3-1-1 record. Stockton was Captain in 1991, when the US edged out Europe, 14½ to 13½, at The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island.

Browne, 48, is one of Azinger’s closest friends on Tour, and owns three USPGA Tour and four Nationwide Tour victories since joining the PGA Tour in 1995.

“The assistants really haven’t been an integral part of The Ryder Cup until recently, and I believe now I’ve made a decision that with my picks, I’m going to make them an important part of this next Ryder Cup for me,” said Azinger. “And, it is my intention to lean on these guys.

“Raymond Floyd won the PGA Championship here in 1982, and is a very good friend, a tremendous player, very intense, a great judge of talent.

“He has a love affair with The Ryder Cup. I love Raymond Floyd and I love his family and I want them to be a part of it, and I want them to be a part of it with me.

“Raymond and Dave were both Captains on Ryder Cup Teams that I played on,” said Azinger. “I think that there’s a lot of wisdom in Raymond Floyd and Dave Stockton and a lot of experience that I plan on leaning on; and I think that together we’re going to do everything we can to try to get this next Ryder Cup right.”

Azinger called Browne “one of the smartest men I know.”

“He’s contemporary. He’s in touch with the players; he knows what’s going on out here,” said Azinger. “All of the players love him and I wanted to share this Ryder Cup with him and his family as well.”

Floyd echoed Azinger’s comments about the new selection process
helping form a stronger Team.

“This is about a competition and your pride and you’re playing for your country,” said Floyd. “I just believe that they (Europe) have had a number of players that have played together often enough and they have a comfort level because they have won. They have had the good experience.”

Stockton said that Europe’s extra Captain assistants figured into a success story for past Ryder Cup Teams.

“One of the biggest things I saw between the Europeans and ourselves is we would have two assistants and they would have way more than two,” said Stockton. “There was a group of people that were making an effort.”

Browne called the invitation to serve as an assistant “an incredible honour.”

“Golf is global, but The Ryder Cup has preceded the rest of golf in terms of that,” said Browne. “I’m proud to represent my country and my tour and The PGA of America, and also the fact that Paul had the kind of confidence and faith to invite me into the fold. So, I’m basically speechless for the first time in my life.”

Source - www.europeantour.com