The first-ever Ryder Cup Trophy Tour landed at the Rose Bowl on Saturday when the UCLA men’s football team hosted UNLV in Pasadena this past Saturday. Former Ryder Cup captain and UCLA alum Corey Pavin presented the trophy during the first quarter of the game to UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero. California Golf News was on hand to speak with Corey after the event about the upcoming Ryder Cup which will be played September 27-October 2, at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.
How did you get involved with the Ryder Cup national tour?
It’s really neat that all the past captains get to show off the trophy. It’s fun for us to show it off and it’s great to do it at your school. It’s really an honor to do it as well. It’s also nice to give it some awareness to people that might be borderline golf fans and then they can tune into the Ryder Cup.
The weeks leading up to the Ryder Cup seem very difficult for the captain, what do you think Davis love is going through?
He has a good group of guys to select* and he has probably 6 or 7 guys that could round out the team. He’ll really have to decide himself which one is best.
There has been some discussion on when the U.S. and European make their selections and if they should be made at the same time.
I think the picks are just the picks. Plus, each team designates when they want to do it anyway. There is no agreement on the timing. They could save their picks to closer to the event like we did. I don’t think there’s really an advantage to it. I don’t think Davis is picking guys to counter the European team.
As a player would you find it difficult to be selected late in the process?
If I was a player and I had a chance to make the team, I wouldn’t care when I was chosen. I just want to be picked. As the last pick, you’re going to be selected Sunday night and you’re not really going to have time to digest it so it might be a good thing. You just go out there and play.
When you were captain did you go just on merit or was chemistry a big thing for you?
It’s a combination. Obviously the first thing you look at is someone who is playing very well. Also, someone you can pair with a lot of different guys. You need some flexibility. But you also need someone who can play on the big stage at the Ryder Cup.
Are the Americans in a slump?
I would never call it a slump. I’d say the real difference lately is that Europe is a lot better than they’ve ever been. It’s very competitive now. The teams are very close and even this year with 6 rookies on the European squad, they could still play great. I like our team this year and I think we should be favored.
*Note: this was written before Monday’s selection.
