Paul Azinger gives verdict after hearing Keegan Bradley’s early Ryder Cup pairing plans

Before taking the job, it is unlikely that Bradley had spent much time considering what he would do as Ryder Cup captain, but he has clearly thrown himself into the role since then, determined to bring home the trophy in New York.

Speaking on Straight Facts Homie, Azinger talked about how impressed he has been with Bradley so far.

He started by recalling some of his own preparation ahead of the 2008 event.

“Prior to getting there Monday, I had talked to every player at great length, guys like Anthony Kim and Justin Leonard and Stewart Cink. It was Stewart Cink’s first Ryder Cup, Anthony Kim’s first Ryder Cup, and I explained to them the Navy SEALs’ concept to team building which was to take a large group and break them into small groups and get them to bond. And that was going to be my strategy in that I was going to put them together by like personalities,” he said.

“And so, they all knew when they arrived that that’s what I was going to do. But nobody else knew it, the caddies didn’t know, and the wives didn’t know, and I thought it was critical because that’s a team, the player, their caddie and their wife, that’s a three man team also. So I thought it was important to be in on it, and I was able to re-establish with authority what we were going to do that week and there was no questions.

“I wrote Cracking the Code and some of the quotes from some of the players in Cracking the Code, Jim Furyk said that ‘for the first time ever, I went to a Ryder Cup not so much concerned about my game, but concerned about how I could make the players around me better’, which was Boo Weekley, JB Holmes and Kenny Perry. And Stewart Cink said ‘it was a weird experience because I never saw anyone else on the team hit a shot but the three guys I was paired with until my match was over on Sunday’. And that’s how it was. It was structured and it probably was the most structured Ryder Cup ever.

“I don’t think Keegan’s going with that philosophy, but I still kind of like what Keegan’s doing. I have a little bit of the inside scoop. What we did I don’t know will ever happen again.

“Keegan’s looking for guys with a lot of guts. He has some pairings in mind that I think are going to work. I like how he’s going to play Bryson.

“I think it’s critical for them to win the first morning. I told him that, you have to win the first morning. Everything you do should be in an effort to win morning number one.”

How the first session has shaped Ryder Cup results since 2002

With the energy expected at Bethpage, momentum could play an even bigger role than usual. A fast start might be even more important than usual in this atmosphere.

Bradley and Azinger are on the same page about how a quick start can shape the entire week. If one team takes control early, it could set the tone for everything that follows.

Over the past 11 Ryder Cups, seven winners of the opening session have gone on to lift the trophy. And in that stretch, no away team has come back after losing early.

If Team USA get out in front quickly, Luke Donald will be up against it as he tries to become the first away captain to win since Jose Maria Olazabal.