Did Corey Pavin make his Ryder Cup picks based on religion?

[a kennedy]

Believe it or not, the European press is preparing to pounce when the U.S. team travels to Celtic Manor in Wales for the Ryder Cup Oct. 1-3, and the main course is not going to be Tiger Woods. OK, it probably is; but another big target for them will be the religious makeup of the American squad. And in that regard, Tiger is kind of a fifth wheel. The majority of the U.S. squad, you see, -- as well as three of Corey Pavin's four captain's picks -- are all born-again Christians. And that's not surprisng to some, being that Pavin is as well.

From the Wall Street Journal:

European attitudes toward America have improved slightly since 2006, but this year's Ryder Cup team, which travels to Celtic Manor in Wales for the Oct. 1-3 event, is no less religious than its predecessor. The captain, Corey Pavin, and several of the players (not to mention Mr. Lehman, who returns as an assistant captain) are born-again Christians. Three of Mr. Pavin's four discretionary "captain's picks"--Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson and Rickie Fowler--are regulars at the PGA Tour's weekly Bible-study sessions. Messrs. Pavin and Lehman are also frequent attendees, along with team members Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar. (The fourth pick, Tiger Woods, claims Buddhism as his religion.)
No one but stray bloggers has alleged that Mr. Pavin made his decisions based on religion--as golf picks they're fairly unassailable. But the subject is close to the surface.
"It's going to be an issue, for sure. The British tabloids will hop on it and hit it hard," predicted Paul Azinger, the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup captain and himself a born-again Christian.
Mr. Pavin declined to comment about how or whether his religious beliefs will be a factor in how he captains the team. Through a spokesman, he said it was a private matter.

http://outofbounds.nbcsports.com/2010/09/did-corey-pavin-make-his-ryder-cup-picks-based-on-religion.html.php

Born again Christians??? oh my.......

[Iggo]

1. Like I didn't have enough reasons to hate golf. (n/t)

[joeybee12]

4. Yeah, what a bunch of jackasses...n/t

[Upton]

2. Not going to be rooting for a bunch of fundies..

I don't care what color their flag is..

[wilt the stilt]

3. I will be rooting for Tiger

[KamaAina]

5. Eurghh. I had no idea it was that widespread.

I only knew about Lehman and Bernhard Langer, who converted after exclaiming "Jesus Christ, I just won the Masters!" on worldwide teevee.

I thought the rest of them were repukes just because they were rich. :eyes:

[backwoodsbob]

6. so if they are Christians there is no other possible reason they were picked?

like...I don't know...talent?

[hughee99]

7. Sounds like you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a born-again on the PGA tour.

If that's mostly what he had to pick from, what's the big deal?

I hear he's picking all men, will that be an issue as well?

[Awsi Dooger]

8. Same thing in 2006

Lehman was captain and a bible club regular. Never met a Democrat he wouldn't insult. Clinton was a "draft dodging baby killer."

Lehman picked Pavin and Loren Roberts of the bible study group as his assistants. Cink was a captain's choice, then as now.

I couldn't have been more giddy when Europe routed Lehman.

This year Cink is a shaky pick. He's had a mediocre year with no finishes above T8 in a stroke play event, and his world golf ranking is down to 35th from 16th last year. That one can be questioned in terms of whether the bible group connection played a role.

Zach Johnson is one of the most religious players on tour but he was also the most logical choice for Pavin, one any captain would have made, alongside Woods.

Rickie Fowler is a rookie with a very quick backswing and star potential but that choice also was not an absolute.

I've heard reports that PGA caddies began attending the bible study meetings every Wednesday night to remain in good standing with the player.

[underpants]

9. The PGA is the John Birch society in spikes

This isn't that surprising.

[wilt the stilt]

10. On another note- Lee Trevino and the Masters

I loved the fact that he never went into the clubhouse as he knew deep down that if he wasn't Lee Trevino that the only value he would have to them is lawn work.

Secondly, I gave up my membership to my golf club. Cink is a member. In the long run it was so conservative and the fact that they would be discussing politics and Obama while I played really turned me off.

Back to the public courses where I belong.

[Awsi Dooger]

11. Not even safe at public courses

I still have an Obama/Biden sticker on my Pathfinder. It inspires frequent comments in the parking lot of my course when I'm loading or unloading my bag, only 1 positive among the dozen most recent.

unperpants mentioned the John Birch Society. That gave me a howl. Recently I played a round with an elderly couple who each had very fancy motorized pull carts. They loved to brag about them, personally ordered with special tweaks. Eventually they also bragged about John Birch Society membership dating 50 years. I smiled and tried not to throw up. Later in the parking lot the woman noticed my Obama sticker. "Can you believe that?," I heard her say to her husband. "I never would have joined him if I'd known that." :rofl: