ERIC NUXOL: Good morning, everyone. Welcome. I'm Eric Nuxol, the championship director of the 2026 Senior PGA Championship, and on behalf of the PGA of America thank you for joining us at the Concession Golf Club.
In just 31 days, the longest running major championship in senior golf will be contested right here in the Sarasota/Bradenton area, with the 86th edition of the Senior PGA Championship.
31 days is pretty hard to believe as we've actively been planning this championship since the announcement in May. Very hard to believe. I think the community support that we've seen has been incredible, and we are very happy to call this the home of the Senior PGA Championship for the next three years.
Before we hear more about this championship this year, for those of you not yet familiar, please take a look at the most epic moments from the most historic and prestigious major in senior golf.
(Video shown.)
I'm pretty fired up about that. I don't know if I can wait 31 days, but we're just going to have to.
We're looking forward to this next chapter of this major unfolding right here, again, in just a few short weeks.
We're pleased to be joined this morning by several individuals who are instrumental to the success of the Senior PGA Championship.
To get things started, please help me welcome the PGA of America's chief championships officer, Kerry Haigh.
KERRY HAIGH: Good morning. Thank you for that introduction, Eric. I can't tell you how excited I am to be here at the Concession.
In particular, Bruce, you came and met with us on, say, four or five years ago and sort of came back again and we talked. He said how much he wanted to have major championship golf here at this incredible venue.
Then he came back again with Brian in a great presentation and just sort of told us what he was going to do to make this a great success. It is now coming to fruition in less than two months.
For those who haven't seen or you'll see this afternoon, the golf course has transitioned somewhat since we first started talking. A lot of clearing of the Palmettos which has made it a lot more picturesque, esthetically pleasing, certainly for spectators it will be, as well as the main entrance which you will see by the practice range on the right side.
Bruce made a commitment to create a bus terminal, a main spectator entrance, and it is almost completed, and we look forward to everyone arriving in six weeks to walk through that main entrance and enjoy the experience of what the Concession is.
The golf course itself, truly amazing. For those, again, who haven't played, it's a great test of golf. Some of the most challenging green complexes I think you'll find anywhere in the country. Paul is going to take about it, I'm sure, when he speaks, but the middle of the green is probably a good place every time you aim this afternoon and join the championship because if you miss, the roll-offs, the bunkering is extremely challenging.
I know my short game is not good enough. A major champion here can get it up-and-down from places, but you will be in those places here at the Concession. It is truly a great test.
Off the tee, it's so well bunkered, if you don't position your tee shot in the fairway to give you a shot into these challenging greens, it will be more than, I think, most of the players can handle.
So we look forward to an incredible test of golf, but as I say, we do need to thank Bruce along with the PGA head professional, Jeremy Decaminade, as well as Brian Weimann, the general manager, who have done incredible work up until now.
And just as importantly, Jason Rowe, the director of agronomy, who you will see has already got the course in championship condition. Incredible, incredible work on his behalf.
TifEagle greens, Tif grand fairways and roughs present a beautiful playing surface for everyone to play from.
We'd also like to say Sarasota and Manatee counties for their support. Their hope and our hope is that by hosting the championship here for the next three years, it will bring the eyes of the country and the world to the Concession and Sarasota and Manatee counties.
So we want people to come, enjoy the experience and see what a great facility and what great counties they both are.
I'd also like to thank the North Florida PGA section, 1 of 41. They are our host section for the championship. Andrew Yeast, the executive director, Mark Verkey, the vice president, Darin Hoff, the secretary, and southwest chapter president, Melissa Williams.
Thank you for your support and your hard work. You're going to make what we know will be a great championship.
With that, I would just like to thank everyone for being here. It is going to be a memorable championship. What I say to our staff, for every championship that we run, our aim is to make this the very best championship, Senior PGA Championship, that we have ever played.
As you saw in the video, we've played some great ones, but this one has the opportunity to be the very best that we have had.
With that, thank you.
ERIC NUXOL: Thank you, Kerry. Next it's my pleasure to welcome the president of the Concession Golf Club and the general chair for our 2026 Senior PGA Championship, Bruce Cassidy.
BRUCE CASSIDY SR: Thank you, Eric. Today is a moment we've been looking forward to for a long time. I'm proud to welcome everyone here to Concession Golf Club for what will prove to be a historic event in the Sarasota Manatee county regions.
The Concession was designed to be one of the finest golf courses in the world. Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin built something truly special here. It's 527 acres. Started out as nothing but woodlands, Palmettos, and rattle snakes and squirrels, but they transformed it into one of the best champion level golf courses in the world.
This gives us an opportunity to really showcase that and demonstrate that.
By hosting a major, it's not about the golf course. It requires a lot of planning. We've been working, just as Kerry said, for years, strong partnerships, and a team that can execute at a very high level when game day comes, and we have all that here at the Concession.
Also working towards that is the partnerships we've worked with PGA of America as Kerry said for several years now, and they've been a great partner. I walked in with my hat in hand I guess you would say and said, we want to get a major at Concession. He didn't laugh. We been talking for about four or five years, and now here we are.
Be also, besides the PGA of America, it's all the local businesses, it's the counties, it's the region, it's everybody who helps put on an event like this. Like I said, it truly takes a village to do this.
I'm also very proud of the community response. Our pool of local volunteers has pretty much been endless. We put out the word we need volunteers. You can't run an event like this without a lot of volunteers. We're talking hundreds and hundreds of volunteers to pull this off.
I believe there are probably no other venues out there that can replicate the support that we've gotten along those lines.
Also, to the local business community. Championship week is a platform for you also. It's time to spend on clients. It's the time you can reward your team. It's a time you can come out yourselves and just be part of history here at the Concession.
But really, we have to engage business communities. It's a very important piece of this for us and everybody wins in that. Community wins, business wins, and it's truly a partnership.
Lastly, I want to thank everybody for joining us today. Your coverage helps us tell the story to the world, and you're taking time out of your day and you're interested in the event and the community, and truly appreciate that.
My closing words would be for everybody who's teeing it up today out there, Kerry mentioned they already did a lot of clearing. It's changed quite a bit but hasn't changed in difficulty. But really spend some time enjoying the scenic views. Don't worry as much about your scorecard as enjoying the play today.
Thank everybody for coming today, appreciate it, and we'll catch up later on. Thank you.
ERIC NUXOL: Thank you, Bruce. As Kerry and Bruce alluded to, this championship has benefitted from outstanding support from Sarasota and Manatee County and the entire region has been phenomenal. With that it's my pleasure to introduce the chair Sarasota County Commission the Honorable Ron Cutsinger.
RON CUTSINGER: Thank you. As chair of the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners, it's an honor to represent our board and our residents. And also speaking as a recent member of visit Sarasota County, we understand that visitors and residents do not see county lines, and that we're part of a powerful region here with Manatee County.
We're very thankful for our positive collaborative relationship.
We're proud to support the Senior PGA event, as we know the economic impact generated by those attending the event, both for work and play, leave their hard-earned dollars here in our region, helping our businesses and our residents.
Also, speaking as chair of the tourist development council, we're well aware of the tourist development tax and sales tax this event generates, helping to fund amazing quality of life amenities.
What's good for our visitors is great for our residents, as well, who get to enjoy them year-round.
We're excited to have this exceptional Sarasota-Bradenton brand presented to golf fans all over the world who will be tuned in watching the broadcast, seeing our images and this beautiful course.
I'm sure they'll be inspired to come experience it and Florida's West Coast for themselves. We'll be ready to welcome them.
Thank you.
ERIC NUXOL: Well said. Thank you, Ron. Next up is Senator Bill Galvano.
BILL GALVANO: Good morning. This is such an exciting time for the Bradenton area. As someone who has represented this area for many, many years, I can't tell you how pleased I am with the exposure that we will get and the economic impact that will come from this great event.
The Bradenton area is a special place. It truly, truly is. And the players that come here and the folks that follow them are going to find beauty, great experiences, and most importantly, tremendous hospitality.
I'll also say this: The Concession is a very special place. What Bruce Cassidy and his team have created here is world class, every bit worthy of hosting a major golf tournament like it is.
On behalf of the Bradenton area, I'd like to say a few thank yous. First to the PGA of America, Kerry Haigh, thank you. Bruce, I'll thank you again, and Brian Weimann and Jeremy and the whole team.
Thank you for your commitment. I've seen it firsthand. I've watched what these folks have done to make sure that we were all in this room here today.
I'd like to thank the Manatee County Commission, Commissioner Mike Rahn who is here, Commissioner George Kruse, Commissioner Amanda Ballard, and chairman Tal Saddiq.
I'd also like to thank our partners in the Sarasota commission. Thank you Commissioner Cutsinger for being here and Elliott Falcione, thank you for all your efforts on behalf of the Visitors Bureau of Manatee County and the convention.
Finally, on a personal note, I'd like to thank my friend governor Ron Desantis, who has been unwavering in his support to see this event in the great state of Florida.
ERIC NUXOL: I'd like to take a moment before we transition to the fireside chat. Thank you for speaking today. We're excited for this thing to be under way, just a few short weeks away.
I'll take a moment to provide some information on ticket and volunteer opportunities. Affordable ticket options. We actually have an any-day flex ticket that you don't know what day you want to come, that's all right. You can choose now or choose later.
But those tickets do -- we stop sale of the any-day flex ticket on April 6 and we move to a single-day ticket. But there are still tickets out there and upgraded hospitality options are also still available.
We have a junior policy. Ages 15 and under receive a free grounds access when accompanied by a ticketed adult with a maximum of four junior grounds tickets per adult can be collected on-site. Show up at the box office and your tickets will be there.
From a military policy, we know we have a lot of veterans and folks in this region, and we are proud to offer active duty retirees, reserve veterans, and national guard and their accompanying guests, limit one, complimentary daily grounds access to the championship, and those tickets can also be redeemed at the box office on-site.
How do we get here? Parking will be complementary at the Premier Sports Campus and will be shuttled in. For those that are interested in taking ride share, we do something that you also go to Premier Sports Campus and shuttle in while we still have construction and some other things around the area.
Lastly, from a volunteer opportunity, we alluded to it before, this championship cannot be run without the support of volunteers. We actually just conducted our uniform credential distribution for that have signed up, and by all accounts this is one of the most successful we've had from a redemption and people come in and pick up their uniforms.
There are still spots available. Information can be found at our website at SRPGAchampionship.com. All volunteer ambassadors do receive access to the championship, a Nike uniform and meals during their shifts. And again, once they're done, enjoying the beautiful championship that we have to offer here at this property.
At this time we're thrilled to actually transition to the main show here and that is our fireside chat portion of the morning.
With that being said, Greg Dillard from the PGA of America will guide us through a conversation with a true legend of the game, a PGA champion and a winning U.S. Ryder Cup captain, Paul Azinger.
As we prepare, we've got a quick video.
(Video shown.)
PAUL AZINGER: No change through the years, that's amazing. No change.
GREG DILLARD: Well, good morning, everyone. As Eric mentioned, I'm Greg Dillard with the PGA of America, and we are very fortunate to spend some time today with Paul Azinger. Thanks for spending some time with us.
PAUL AZINGER: Thank you. I love it here. I love this area. I'm pumped. It seems surreal that this championship is coming to the Concession Golf Club. I'll tell you that. Great job, Bruce. Thank you, Kerry.
GREG DILLARD: Tell us more about that as a local resident. Why is this community, this golf course such a perfect destination for this major championship?
PAUL AZINGER: Well, Bruce said it right. Jack came in here with Tony Jacklin. The whole thing was Ryder Cup here, and you never want to lose sight of that. One of the greatest acts of sportsmanship probably set the bar for all of us in how to behave, maybe for every sport really, to congratulate your opponent or to not force your opponent to make that putt or whatever that was.
That was one of the great shows of sportsmanship.
Tony Jacklin approached Jack with the idea of building a course around that theme, and Concession was born. Jack loved it, and they did truly build a masterpiece of a golf course. It is hard off the tee, and on and around the greens is a real handful. Collin Morikawa shot 18-under, but many of the players wanted to complain that it wasn't fair that were over par, but you can't complain when a guy shoots 18-under because you know that strategically it can be had.
Kerry Haigh is the best in the business at setting up golf courses. He has set up the major championships, the PGA Championship for years. How long now, Kerry?
KERRY HAIGH: 37 years.
PAUL AZINGER: 37 years. Never makes a tragic error, honestly. I'm real excited to have Kerry set up this golf course because I want to see what it's like when Kerry Haigh sets it up.
I bet they won't shoot 18-under; I'll tell you that much.
It's a hard course. I did grow up out here. I grew up out Fruitville Road in a little town called Fruitville, and I got to see the best of both worlds.
My dad was in the marina business, so I got to spend time out there in the salt water, and I also got to spend time kind of out in the woods. I'm just amazed at the growth here. I think everything that's happened in Sarasota and Manatee County since I've been here has been fantastic.
I-75 wasn't here when I was growing up, and there was the University Parkway didn't exist. It's just amazing. Now I see all the spectators coming out east of the interstate. We're 20 minutes east of the interstate here maybe, and the construction continues.
This is probably the hottest area in the United States, Sarasota-Manatee County. It seems like the place to be. We have it all.
I feel like landing a Senior PGA Championship and having Hall-of-Famers roll into town, every single name is going to be familiar for the most part, and the ones that aren't familiar really did earn their spot.
This is a big deal. It goes back a long time, and it's the biggest of all, the senior majors. It's right up there with the Senior U.S. Open.
I'm so proud of our area. I had no idea when we moved here and grew up here that it would be this kind of a place. It just was so country. A lot of dirt roads and single lane farm loads, and now there's just this massive lake wood ranch even. It's just we're kind of in that area there now. It's been amazing.
To score a PGA senior is really mindboggling to me. I'm so proud to be a part of the area, and I can't wait for those guys to show up, see what they say, see what they think of the course, see how they play.
GREG DILLARD: As Eric reminded us, championship week is quickly approaching, and I think a question on a lot of our minds here is do you know just yet what your role might look like championship week?
PAUL AZINGER: Well, I still can play it. That's what I've been realizing. I haven't gotten back really hooked on golf again until about a year and a half, two years ago, mainly because of my grandson who's nine. I'm actually hitting it nice and pretty far.
All my numbers are the same as they ever were, and I'm hitting the sweet spot. I'm going to wait another few days, however long I have to decide.
I could commit and withdraw, I guess (laughter.) First alternate would be so happy. Maybe if I don't like first alternate -- no.
But I've got a couple days to think about it. I don't know, why wouldn't I? But then again, why would I? (Laughter).
Some things are not meant for public consumption, and it could be my game. So we'll see. I haven't decided yet. Thanks for asking.
GREG DILLARD: My pleasure. You, of course, are no stranger to major championship golf, so let's go back a little ways to 1993, the PGA Championship at Inverness Club in Ohio.
It's August, you caught fire to say the least with four birdies over your final seven holes to get to 12-under in a playoff. What do you remember most about that back nine stretch?
PAUL AZINGER: I saw Norman and Faldo ahead of me, and I'm like, that can't last. That was my first thought.
No, honestly, it was a star-studded leaderboard. I remember when I missed a short putt on 11 for birdie getting this kind of jolt like, oh, my God, I might not win this because all week I felt like it was mine.
Even though I wasn't ahead, I just was playing that well.
Statistically I was first in fairways hit, second in distance, and first in greens in regulation, and I barely won.
Thankfully I made a couple putts at the end. Everybody wanted me to beat Greg Norman at the time except the Greg Norman fans, I guess. It was one of those -- it was time for me, I guess. My shoulder hurt so bad. I couldn't put my scorecard in my back pocket that week, and I was taking anti-inflammatories.
I remember taking 12 anti-inflammatories before I teed off the final round. I took four when I woke up, four at lunch and four on the first tee, and off we went.
I played like that for several months, and when I won, I was the best player not to win a major that year because I had won Jack's tournament; I holed out of the bunker to win Jack's tournament.
Then I won the Boston. Same thing, couldn't put my scorecard in my pocket. Then when I won there, it was relief more than anything because I had become the best player not to win a major, and I was the highest ranked American. All that was going strong.
Actually the Friday night of that event, I got a call from Frank Jobe saying he wanted to biopsy me, Tuesday after the event, but I was already in The Skins Game. Then I won the event. I won the PGA.
Then he called me, congratulated me and said, well, I guess we can put it off, and we did. I finally did the biopsy after The Skins Game and then I got the bad news.
It really cut me off. That was kind of the end of my glory days, to be honest with you. I still made it back to the top 10 in the world ranking, I think, and I played another Ryder Cup and another Presidents Cup and I won one more tournament. So I'm happy about all that.
But my influence and impact on the game is because I won the PGA Championship. If I would not have won that tournament, I wouldn't be sitting here right now. I wouldn't have landed any TV career at ABC and ESPN and then NBC, FOX even. I was at FOX. Now I'm doing Senior Tour 14 weeks a year.
But it's all because I won this championship. This is a great championship. The senior version of this championship is just as special to me.
I really meant what I said; the PGA of America has been and always will be the backbone of the game of golf. The players are fun to watch and they drive a lot. They do drive a great brand. They drive product.
But the guys in the pro shops are the ones that take care of the millions that play, and I love the organization. I wish they'd do better in the Ryder Cup. That's the only complaint I have.
But other than that, I feel like I'm just proud to be a part of it.
GREG DILLARD: Good segue there. Speaking of the Ryder Cup, you and your name are synonymous with golf's greatest team event. You played on a couple winning teams in '91, '93. You were undefeated in four career singles matches. Can you take us behind the curtain a little bit. What's it really like to represent your country in a Ryder Cup?
PAUL AZINGER: Yeah, I think at the time we always felt it was the most pressure you could feel. It meant that much to us. It still does, for a lot of the players, most of the players. I was on the last team that won in Europe, I can tell you.
It hurts me to see us lose Ryder Cups and then lose home course advantage. When I heard Kisner say the other day that Fleetwood drove it in the rough on purpose so Rory could hold the shot into the green and our guys hit it in the fairway and couldn't, they spun it, they laughed and thought it was funny.
It made me mad. I want to win the Ryder Cup, not get out-prepared. I just feel like a little more continuity.
I'm hoping Tiger is the next captain because everything would come together maybe if Tiger could take the helm. We should be beating Europe. They have a chip on their shoulder and a little bit of an intangible, but I don't know, my memories of Ryder Cup and representing the country are my greatest memories.
Being inside the room with the players, going head-to-head against Seve Ballesteros and head to head against Faldo and Woosnam, Colin Montgomerie, and all the greatest players, and partnering with Curtis and partnering with Tiger. I partnered with Freddy, I partnered with Payne. Those were the glory days for a golfer.
I don't think about that stuff until it gets brought up in this scenario. Those were glory days. Now you move on, everything is about looking forward, and I can love the past a little bit. But I owe the PGA of America a lot. I really do. I'm glad I won their championship.
Now I'm just looking forward to what's ahead in 31 days, the big boys are rolling in. Hopefully Tiger will last-second commit. He's got until Friday, so come on, bud. This is a major, right in your home state. You can do it. Take a cart.
GREG DILLARD: Back to the Ryder Cup real quick, of course in 2008 you led the American team to a resounding victory at Valhalla Golf Club. Just last year, golf Digest's Shane Ryan wrote, Azinger's tenure at the helm of the Ryder Cup team remains the most impactful moment in the team's history. What do you think Shane meant by that?
PAUL AZINGER: I'm not sure that's true. Nothing like that has been done since. I think it had an impact at the moment, but I don't think that it really had much of an impact beyond.
What we did was take a Navy Seals concept to team building, which is take a large group, break them into small groups. I put them in the small groups based on Dr. Ron Braun's advice, which was maybe like personality types instead of like games.
So we put those principles in place and I had Myers-Briggs -- we used the business principles and we put those guys together by green light personality types in their groups.
I picked Stricker for his first-ever Ryder Cup, and he was a green light with any of the three groups. But I put him with the steady supportive group, and then I had nine players.
Each of the three-man teams that I created knew that they were put together there by personality type. They also knew that they needed one more guy in their group. I empowered those three players and gave them ownership and let them pick who was the fourth guy to fill out their group.
So you've got Mickelson, Justin Leonard, and Anthony Kim deciding out of six names they could pick that were green lights and they picked Hunter Mahan, and he shows up ready to run through a wall because those three brought him in.
This is the kind of continuity we built. We built it with every one of the three pods, and that has never been done since, and I don't know why. I just don't understand why.
The pods idea has happened. But how you put them in those pods I think is real critical. America does usually pretty well in that pod system. I don't know what happened at this last Ryder Cup, but to lose on your home track, to be down 10-1 on your home track, that was humiliating for all of us that were there.
But Europe, I guess, out-prepared us.
Now after seeing Kisner's comments, that should never happen, and it did. I'm wondering if Tiger can get us to at least tie them in preparation in Europe. That's my hope. If Tiger is the captain. I say Tiger. I'm sorry if I said that. I don't know that. I don't know that. I swear I don't. But I hope that.
GREG DILLARD: What is your favorite moment --
PAUL AZINGER: My least favorite was when I kissed Boo on the cheek. He was sweaty. That was a huge mistake. That was an absolute just chaotic moment. What a blast to be able to celebrate like that. That was really just the culmination of all the effort and all the preparation that everybody put forth to win this competition. We did out-prepare Europe there.
I was the first-ever captain that wanted any kind of control over the course. Europe's controlled the course on us for so long, and I asked Tony Jacklin about it before on stage. He goes, well, of course we have. I felt vindicated there a little because I think people said, oh, you controlled the course. Well, yeah.
There was just some little things -- when it all came together, I was really excited for the players because everything I did really was -- when you think about it, I just want the everyone to have a great experience.
My wife Toni was so amazing. She actually talked me into lobbying to be the captain because I had to lobby for it a little bit. But Toni was amazing in our team room and that whole thing.
But I don't know, I'm going in circles a little bit. It was just nice to win a Ryder Cup. It really was. We need to win more Ryder Cups. We really do. A little continuity is what we need.
GREG DILLARD: Great memories. That does it for questions from me. We have some time for questions from the media now. If you have a question, we've got some mic runners on each side, so we'll get one to you.
Q. Paul, talk about the state of the PGA TOUR Champions and the players that are going to be here. You have a gambit where you have major champions who are very recognizable names. You have another guy who wears two gloves who winds up winning tournaments, and every one of them was scrambling to get some playing time at Concession while they were here on their Florida Swing. There's a lot of excitement, but I'm curious about the state of the senior game these days.
PAUL AZINGER: Well, I think it's okay. I think the senior game can be better. I think it can be a little more exciting, a little more energy maybe from the players themselves.
There are a few unheralded names that have dot gotten in there that play really well, and you can't fault them for that. They're amazing players. But the names that you recognize, that quality of play is still there.
Anytime you've got guys that have never won majors on the regular tour that want to be here and win a senior major, I can tell you that, a Jerry Kelly, somebody like that, maybe Stricker. We'll see who knows up.
I feel like it's going to be a who's who of players that never made it to the Hall of Fame that won a bunch of tournaments that you know, and then you have a host of Hall-of-Famers.
I'm excited about it. I think the game could be a little more exciting on a day-to-day basis, but when it comes to elevated events, like, this is a championship. This is a championship, not a tournament. Events that got championship behind it, it's a different animal. These guys will be preparation like crazy. Stewart Cink has already been here to prep the course. They're all coming in early.
It's probably the number one thing on their mind right now is this golf tournament.
Q. Can you talk about the pride that you seem to be exuding when you were talking about the tournament coming to Florida as a kid who grew up here? There haven't been many championships in the sunshine state in recent years, so this is quite a boon for our state.
PAUL AZINGER: It is. It really is. It's huge for the state of Florida. You do have THE PLAYERS Championship, which is the TOUR's major. The PGA Championship was played down there at PGA National, I know, in '83, probably one of the greatest tests ever, and '87. That was probably the greatest test ever, '87.
That was really hard. I remember getting paired with Crenshaw and Ballesteros that week, and the rough was this deep. It was the toughest test I can ever remember, to be honest, and those two got it up-and-down everywhere, and I never got one ball up-and-down if I missed.
I had just lost the British, and I played so poorly that next major that they both ended up kind of sort of adopting me a little bit, and they showed me short game. Both of them showed me short game and how to do it. Seve then of course in '89 that all changed; we butted heads.
But prior to that they felt sorry for me losing and I learned so much from those guys. That was here in the sunshine state. I'm thrilled that we have another major championship in Florida.
If you can hear this and you haven't volunteered. You should volunteer. You pay for your uniform but you get the best seat in the house.
Q. Can you talk about the Myers-Briggs effort that you did? The reason I'm asking is if I go into that locker room, there aren't too many guys who know about Myers-Briggs and pods and managing people and personality traits and everything else. They think they know, but they haven't made a study of it. How did you come to decide to use that?
PAUL AZINGER: Well, my knowledge is very remedial at best, but I trusted Dr. Ron Braun, his son, and Olin Browne. What we did was we learned what we felt were the four personality traits that were most important and basically the characteristics of -- we just didn't write anything down, we just went through their personality and their character, and we determined whether they were the influencers, the influencing relators, kind of the dominant controlling, the steady supportives, you know, by color.
We pretty much determined which personalities would do best in a pressure situation.
It didn't determine how sustainable it was. Like if Furyk is a yellow -- like he was a caution light with the redneck pod because he's not an encourager, and all three of those guys needed a little encouraging periodically.
So I could message Furyk -- this was the best part, is with Ron, I could message them according to their personality. I could encourage Furyk or Stewart Cink and I could challenge Anthony Kim. You couldn't go encourage Anthony Kim or he'd backhand you. You had to go challenge that guy.
I just approached every person according to what we determined their personality characters were and I didn't say much to the players during the matches. But nothing like that has been done since, and it's not that hard to do. It's so easy to do. You just have to have somebody to monitor that. You could do it for the next captain, say, here's all your green lights and here's your cautions and here's your don't do it, red light, Tiger-Phil, don't do it.
Q. Has being analytical minded helped you as an analyst on television?
PAUL AZINGER: Yeah, definitely, big time. Big time. I think about what I know about the player and how he tends to process. If you know how a guy processes his information, you can know if he's nervous or not, nervous or excited or happy.
Q. Have you had opportunities to captain since 2008? Would you do it again if you were asked?
PAUL AZINGER: No, not now. It's too late. But I would watch over it if they wanted to make a position. I wouldn't mind being director of the Ryder Cup or something, like make a position or something.
How about that? It's out there now. It would be fun to, really. Like just be able to be over the top of it all and advise the captain a little bit through some -- that would create continuity if nothing else is to have somebody in place that can advise the captain. That's what we need.
They have Luke Donald again. They have home course advantage and they have a chip on their shoulder. That's three intangibles that you have to overcome when you roll into -- where is it?
Q. Adare Manor?
PAUL AZINGER: Adare Manor next year. They likely have a very unbeatable scenario, plus they have the Cup. The U.S. has maybe the most daunting task ever going on foreign soil to try to win a Ryder Cup.
Q. Would we be well served to have captains repeat? You think about you had success, Stricker had success. Donald --
PAUL AZINGER: Well, Europe lost a lot of their players to LIV and they drew a line in the sand there. Stenson got kicked and then Luke came in. But you have Poulter and Westwood and McDowell, you have so many potential captains in Europe.
That's what's happening over there. Having Luke again is just so easy for them. It's so great. Big hole for us.
Q. Do you think the collapse at Medinah had any effect on how team U.S. has changed since then?
PAUL AZINGER: No, it's not a lingering effect. It's usually different people. We thought in 2020 we blasted them and that was going to be it, they were going to dominate forever. It doesn't work that way. It's not always the same people coming back.
Europe has kind of the same core. They do get players that will play six and eight Ryder Cups sometimes, and we don't generally have that. A few guys, but a lot of our guys that have had those experiences experienced a lot of losing. They own us right now. We've got to overcome that.
GREG DILLARD: We'll wrap it right there. Ladies and gentlemen, one more time for our special guest, Paul Azinger.
ERIC NUXOL: Thank you guys. We do have 24 major champions in our field, and hopefully we see 25 and maybe a nudge to someone else to make it 26 and some more coming. But thank you, everybody, for coming today. This was awesome.
We do invite everyone for some one-on-one interviews, Kerry, Bruce, myself will be available and maybe a couple others if Randy has lined it up. And then lastly we have a lunch available for any attendees and our guests here in the grill room.
Our staff can help direct, but we encourage you guys to eat up. Thank you again. We're 31 days away from teeing it up for the 86th Senior PGA Championship.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports