Azinger fills out U.S. Ryder Cup team

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Four players, including international team rookie J.B. Holmes, were selected Tuesday by U.S. captain Paul Azinger to round out his Ryder Cup team.

In addition to Holmes, Azinger tabbed Chad Campbell, Hunter Mahan and Steve Stricker for his 12-man team.

The Ryder Cup, contested every other year, pits a U.S. team against a group of European players in a three-day team competition. European teams have won the last three and five of the last six competitions. This year's Ryder Cup champion will be determined Sept. 19-21 in Louisville, Ky.

Campbell played in the past two Ryder Cups, putting together a 1-3-2 record. Stricker and Mahan have played in the Presidents Cup. Holmes, the only one of the four with a PGA Tour win this year, hasn't before been on an international competition team.

The U.S. team normally would feature world No. 1 Tiger Woods, but he is rehabilitating after knee surgery. The automatic qualifiers for the U.S. team are: Stewart Cink, Ben Curtis, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry and Boo Weekley.

The European team, under captain Nick Faldo, will be led by Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia.