The new Ryder Cup points system for the U.S. makes more sense than the old one. At least it will give the captain, Paul Azinger, a chance to pick the hotter players.

First of all, Azinger will get four captains picks, not two. And the new system will be based essentially on the money list. Why not? Everything else in America is.

Those players in 2006 that have already earned points, those that finished in the top-10, will get one quarter of a point for every thousand dollars they won, from the PGA Championships through the end of the year.

In 2007, the only events where American players will earn points toward the Ryder Cup team will be the four majors – one point for every thousand dollars they earn if they make the cut.

The biggest change will be in 2008, the year of the next Ryder Cup. Starting in January and through the PGA Championships, players will earn one point per thousand dollars in every event where they make the cut, and in the majors they will earn two points. Those events opposite the majors will award half a point per thousand dollars.

Also, Azinger will have longer to make his picks after the PGA Championships, though they’re still working out the details.

What about the FedEx Cup you ask? Seven of the last eight events leading up to the Ryder Cup will be Fed Ex events – with no break between the last and the Ryder Cup competition. Azinger admits that’s the great unknown.

“I don’t really know how the best players in the world are going to react…,” he said at the news conference announcing his captaincy and the new points system. ” …Somehow though I feel like it’s better for us…”

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