Pavin selected Ryder Cup captain

Corey Pavin has been selected as the next U.S. captain in the Ryder Cup, leading the team 15 years after last competing in the matches, two officials with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press.

Pavin, who will be introduced as captain today in New York, will be responsible for bringing the Americans consecutive victories in the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1993. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because Pavin's selection has not been announced.

The PGA of America elected not to give Paul Azinger the captaincy for the second straight time after the Americans, without Tiger Woods, ended a decade of losing to Europe with a 161/2-111/2 victory at Valhalla. The 2010 Ryder Cup will be played at Celtic Manor in Wales.

The Americans have not won in Europe since The Belfry in 1993. Pavin won 15 times on the PGA Tour, including the 1995 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, during a career in which his grit, ball control and short game made up for his lack of power off the tee. He went 8-5-0 in his three Ryder Cup appearances, two of them on winning teams, but has not played since 1995 at Oak Hill.

He was an assistant to Tom Lehman in 2006 in Ireland, where Europe won by a record margin for the second straight time. "It makes sense to choose Corey, with his history and everything in the event," Justin Leonard said.