Azinger draws on own experience to let Ryder players choose their partners

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Azinger admits he once did not want to play with a certain team-mate and will try to avoid any similar personality clashes in the contest at Valhalla in Kentucky.

Paul Azinger (right), United States Ryder Cup team captain, and European Ryder Cup team captain Nick Faldo pose with the Ryder Cup trophy

"My first question is, is there anyone on the team you just don't want to play with?" said Azinger. "There was one Ryder Cup team I played on where there was one guy I just didn't really want to play with. I think that's just human nature. You might have had a run-in with that guy."

Azinger, who did not name the team-mate in question, persuaded the PGA of America to make two significant changes to how the team are chosen.

Not only will the captain have four captain's picks, double the previous number, but he will not name them until early September, three weeks later than usual.

"Anyone who wins a tournament is probably going to get on," Azinger added. "A winner after the PGA is probably still going to be pretty confident three weeks later."

Azinger also promised not to be too fussy in his management. "I'm dealing with the 12 best golfers," he said. "If I go in there thinking I've got to hold hands, what chance do we have? I'm not holding any hands. They're all big boys."

Azinger also wants the course set up to favour his team. He said: "I don't know how to get an advantage at this point it would be irresponsible of me not to try to find a way to gain an edge, if that's possible. If I can find it, I'll try to get it."