ATLANTA - Former major champion Paul Azinger is expected to be named on Monday as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the next match against Europe in 2008.

Paul Azinger watches his drive on the 1st hole of the Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, June 3, 2001. The former major champion is expected to be named on Monday as the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for the next match against Europe in 2008. [Reuters]

The 46-year-old, who won the 1993 PGA Championship at Inverness, is a veteran of four Ryder Cups as a player and known for his competitive, gutsy attitude.

His most likely captaincy challengers are former major winners Fred Couples and Corey Pavin. Azinger, however, has been widely tipped by the U.S. media to get the verdict.

He played on triumphant U.S. teams in 1991 and 1993 and was unbeaten in singles matches where his two victories came against Spanish heavyweights Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal.

Azinger won three of his 12 PGA Tour titles in 1993, a career-best year that ended on a bitter note for him when he was diagnosed with lymphoma in his right shoulder.

His successful fightback culminated in his most recent Tour victory at the 2000 Hawaiian Open.

Asked to comment on his captaincy credentials before Thursday's opening round of the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, Azinger told Reuters: "There has been a lot of speculation going on, and that's all I'm saying."

The announcement of the U.S. skipper will be made by the PGA of America during a conference call on Monday from Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, venue for the 2008 Ryder Cup.

The Europeans appointed six-times major winner Nick Faldo as their next captain in March last year.

Azinger would face a tough task as U.S. captain after Tom Lehman's U.S. team crashed to a record-equalling defeat by 18-1/2 points to 9-1/2 at the K Club in Ireland in September.

The Americans, who have lost the last three matches, have not won since a come-from-behind victory at Brookline in 1999. Their last success before that was in 1993.