Paul Azinger has been named as the American Ryder Cup captain for the 2008 matches at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky.

His appointment is no surprise as he had been touted as the successor to Tom Lehman for several weeks.

Azinger, the 1993 US PGA champion, has played in four Ryder Cups - the last in 2002 at the Belfry having successfully beaten cancer in his shoulder.

A feisty competitor in his prime, he was just pipped by Nick Faldo for the 1987 Open at Muirfield and involved in heated Ryder Cup matches with Seve Ballesteros in 1989 and 1991.

He will be resuming his rivalry with Faldo, who will lead Europe to Valhalla looking for an historic fourth successive victory.

Under the successive leaderships of Curtis Strange, Hal Sutton and Tom Lehman the Americans have found themselves outplayed by Europe and despite many in the USA claiming the job is a poisoned chalice Azinger has made no secret of his desire for the job.

"It's like everything to gain, nothing to lose now," he said previously. "I think really the key to success in the future is to get the hottest players in there. Somehow you have to come up with a formula that's more current hot players."

In a huge change to their selection procedure it was also announced that Azinger will have four wild cards. Lehman and his predecessors had only two.

Also points will not be awarded solely for top-10 finishes. The only counting events next year are the four majors, with one point for every US$1,000 earned by those who make the cut, and in 2008 there will be the same at all regular events and two points at each of the majors.

As for the qualification process for the European team, that has still to be confirmed according to a statement released by Ryder Cup Europe LLP today.

"The qualification process for both the European and US Ryder Cup teams has always been one of choice and this applies to the Captains' picks as well as the system by which the players automatically qualify," the statement read.

"Europe's full team of 12 was taken directly from the Official Money List in 1983 and, otherwise, it has alternated between two or three Captain's picks.

"The qualification process for The European Team for The 2008 Ryder Cup has yet to be announced."