The blueprint for Ryder Cup victory is on sale at Amazon.com for $16.47. Or a used copy of "Cracking the Code" can be purchased — shield your eyes, Paul Azinger — for 93 cents.
Azinger captained the 2008 U.S. team at Valhalla in Louisville, Ky. Considering the lopsided final score of 161/2-111/2 and the fact Europe won in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010, this was the equivalent of the Toledo Mud Hens beating the Chicago Cubs.
OK, bad example.
But the victory did show that the role of a successful captain goes far beyond picking lineups and designing shirts.
Azinger got the PGA of America to change the selection process for captain's picks. He broke up his players into four-man pods and grouped them by personality, not style of golf game. He empowered assistant captains. He influenced course setup. During a match, he challenged Anthony Kim by saying: "Buddy, I thought you were going to show me something today. You're not showing me squat!"
Azinger's book is 155 pages before the glossy pictures, and you get the sense he could write another 155 off the top of his head. The ESPN analyst and 11-time PGA Tour winner has not been shy about offering to help 2012 captain Davis Love III.
"When the iPhone says Paul Azinger," Love said of his caller ID, "I have to make a decision: Do I have 30 to 45 minutes, or do I hit the ignore button? It's really incredible how much thought and passion he put into it."
Four years later, Azinger thinks about what he didn't do well at Valhalla.
"The one regret I have is that I assumed that guys knew how to play match play," he said. "But I had six rookies on my team."
An example: If, say, Steve Stricker has a 4-foot putt in best ball and partner Tiger Woods has 12 feet, Stricker might want to go first. He'll feel less pressure.
Azinger said when he was paired with Chip Beck, Beck would go ahead and knock in a putt even if Azinger was off the green.
"Draino," Azinger said. "I could pick up my chip."
Much of Azinger's work went into team-building exercises. He organized a trip to the Muhammad Ali Museum in Louisville on the Monday of Ryder Cup week and included players' wives and caddies for a gathering that night.
Love said he missed the Valhalla matches for a family event.
"I should have gone," Love said, "because (Azinger) really put so much into it. He has given me a lot of very good advice, and I'll pick on him a little bit."
Love said he will do "10 or 12 things" to ensure team bonding but declined to elaborate. He did mention hosting team dinners Monday and Tuesday.
Perhaps just as important is to make those who flock to Medinah feel like the 13th man.
To work around the Ryder Cup's no-autograph policy, Azinger pushed players to "engage the crowd, make eye contact." And he had them flip lapel pins to fans, hoping the souvenirs would become more valued than an autograph.
"Embrace the crowd," Azinger said. "It's important to keep them on your side."
Love apparently agrees. During practice rounds Tuesday, Woods was among those tossing something to fans — Team USA pins.
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein
