Azinger keeps close eye on Boston for wildcard picks

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

NORTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) - U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger has to make one of his toughest decisions within two days and may have gained a helping hand at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Saturday.

Azinger will announce his four wildcard picks on Tuesday to complete his 12-man team and all year he has been hoping to select a quartet of in-form players to take on Europe next month.

Although most of the leading contenders have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, at least six Cup hopefuls and one outsider shone in the third round at the TPC Boston.

Steve Stricker, ninth in the Cup standings, fired a four-under-par 67, D.J. Trahan (11th) a 66 and Hunter Mahan (12th) a 64 to climb into Deutsche Bank Championship contention.

Brandt Snedeker (15th) and twice Ryder Cup player Scott Verplank both returned 68s while 2007 Presidents Cup debutant Woody Austin (10th) shot a 66.

PGA Tour rookie Kevin Streelman, in the eyes of many a Ryder Cup long-shot, was the best-placed of the seven after a 65 lifted him into a tie for fifth, three shots behind leader Tim Clark of South Africa.

Although Streelman would rank as a surprise selection by Azinger, top-six finishes in his last two Tour starts mark him out as one of the most in-form players available.

Anthony Kim, one of eight players who has already earned his place as rookie on the U.S. team, does not envy Azinger's task of picking four wildcards.

"I don't want to be in his shoes for sure," Kim told reporters after firing a second successive 66 at the TPC Boston to lie four shots off the second-round pace.

"I think it would be easier if he just had two picks. You need to pick a couple veterans, Steve Stricker or Scott Verplank, and younger guys like Hunter Mahan.

TOUGH DECISION

"If the guys play well, you're a genius; if they don't, you made a huge mistake. It's a tough decision."

Jim Furyk, a veteran of five Ryder Cups, countered Kim's views that four wildcards was too many.

"Honestly, I like the four picks," the former world number two said after joining Streelman in a tie for fifth after carding a 65.

"Paul is full of confidence. He's a tough competitor and he changed the system because he felt like it gave us the best opportunity to get the 12 best guys on the team.