PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif., Feb. 3 (UPI) -- American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin announced Wednesday he had chosen two veterans of the competition among his four assistants for this year's matches.
Davis Love III, Jeff Sluman, Tom Lehman and Paul Goydos will be part of Pavin's staff when the United States takes on Europe in this year's Ryder Cup, scheduled for Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales.
Love and Lehman have played in the Ryder Cup and Lehman has been a United States captain.
Love won a key singles match in the 1993 Ryder Cup at The Belfry in what turned out to be a 15-13 American victory. That was the last United States win in Europe.
Pavin's announcement came at the Riviera Country Club on the eve of the opening round of the Northern Trust Open.
"I believe that the strength to any team, especially in the Ryder Cup, stems from the support staff you have behind the ropes and in the locker room," Pavin said. "That makes the four assistants I've chosen MVPs in my mind.
"I believe that Tom Lehman, Davis Love III, Jeff Sluman and Paul Goydos bring experience, proven ability under pressure in major championships and Ryder Cups, and a fresh perspective in how to help bond this team for the challenges that we will face in Wales."
A year-long points race that closes with the playing of the PGA Championship in August will determine eight of the 12 U.S. Ryder Cup players. Pavin will announce his four wild card selections on Sept. 7.
The European team will be captained by Colin Montgomerie. The United States won the most recent playing of the matches in 2008, when they were held in Louisville, Ky.
