No easy Ryder for U.S. holders, says Pavin

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin accepts he faces a daunting task in trying to lead his team to their first victory on European soil since 1993.

Although the U.S. ended a run of three successive defeats by beating Europe in Louisville, Kentucky last year, Pavin knows his players will have to hole putts at the right time if they are to triumph at Celtic Manor, Wales in 2010.

"The bottom line still is the players on the team have to play well and make putts, chip well and win their matches," Pavin told Reuters on Wednesday. "My job is to make sure the players are in a frame of mind to best serve that purpose.

"It's going to be a different story playing overseas," added the 49-year-old American, who competed in three Ryder Cups as a player.

"We haven't won on foreign soil since 1993 so it's going to be a challenge and it's going to be tougher than playing in the United States. It always is but I am looking forward to the challenge."

On Tuesday, Europe followed the example set last year by inspirational U.S. captain Paul Azinger in increasing the number of wildcard picks available in their selection process.

For Celtic Manor, European skipper Colin Montgomerie will have a team made up of nine qualifiers and three wildcards, a change from the 10+2 system adopted since 1995.

While applauding the move, Pavin believes the most significant factor is to have a system embraced by the entire team.