NEW YORK -- On the heels of watching Paul Azinger captain the United States Ryder Cup team to its first victory since 1999, the PGA of America was searching for a way to break its other losing streak: The overseas one.

The Americans haven't captured the Ryder Cup on foreign soil since 1993 at The Belfry in Ireland. So what better way to break that streak than tab one of the members of that '93 team to captain the 2010 squad?

Enter Corey Pavin.

"Today my dream has come true," an emotional Pavin said at a morning press conference at Tavern on the Green in Central Park.

Pavin won three points during the famous 1993 "Battle at the Belfry" to help the U.S. team win on overseas for the first time since 1981.

Sybase Classic tournament officials have confirmed the 2009 tournament will take place May 11-17 at the Upper Montclair Country Club.

The event features a $2 million purse, $300,000 of which will be presented to the Tournament champion.

Lorena Ochoa claimed her 23rd career LPGA Tour victory by winning the 2008 Sybase Classic for the third consecutive time with a ten-under-par 206 (68-67-71). Ochoa withstood a strong final round challenge by several LPGA Tour professionals, including Morgan Pressel and rookie Na Yeon Choi.

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated PressCaddie Tiger Woods lines up a putt with John Abel of West Berlin, N.J., on the 18th hole of the South Course at Torrey Pines Monday.

He didn't have golf clubs, either.

Hopping from a cart, Woods walked up to 59-year-old John Abel, of West Berlin, N.J., doffed his cap and extended his right hand. "Hey, I hear you're looking for a caddie. I'm Tiger Woods -- pleased to meet you."

Donna Pla of Bamm Hollow, Renate Green of Alpine, Sandy Mascia of Manasquan River and Cathy Fischberg of Basking Ridge combined for a 68 and first place in the Garden State Women's Golf Association Closing Day Scramble at the Shackamaxon Golf and Country Club in Scotch Plains.

Sue DeKalb of Bamm Hollow, Gloria Shea of Deal and Jennifer Morris of Roxiticus placed second on a match of cards after posting a 69. 
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Brett Jones of Hollywood fired rounds of 70 and 71 for a one-under-par total of 141 and won the New Jersey Assistant PGA Championship by two strokes over Jason Bataille of Trump National Monday at the Hollywood Golf Club, Deal.

Keith Grassing of North Jersey placed third with a 145. Bataille clinched his second consecutive Assistant Player of the Year award with his second-place showing.

After firing a 69 Tuesday, on a rugged course at Essex County Country Club for the opening round lead in the $65,000 Lincoln/New Jersey PGA Championship, Brent Studer of Manasquan River said he didn't think he could play much better.

But his thinking must have changed Wednesday morning in the second round, when he birdied five of his first nine holes. Studer did give something back with an incoming 39 for a 70, but still held a piece of the lead at 3-under-par 139. Sharing the top spot with one round to go Thursday is Tom Sipula of Edgewood, who shot a 68 on the 6,901-yard course.

LOCAL GOLF

The groove that produced a 63 a few weeks ago in a PGA pro-amateur was still working Tuesday for Manasquan River pro Brent Studer, who bolted to the lead after the first round of the $65,000 Lincoln/New Jersey PGA Championship at the Essex County Country Club, West Orange.

The 43-year-old Studer, winner of the PGA 10 years ago, fired a 2-under-par 69 at the 6,901-yard course to pace a starting field of 131, including a game Mike Burke Jr. of Montammy. Burke, a three-time PGA champion and winner of three PGA Match-Play Championships at Essex County, shot a 70 to share second place with Paul Poandl of Canoe Brook, one of the state's top shot-makers from the assistant pro ranks.

Photo courtesy of SBA Public RelationsHall of Famer Nancy Lopez will tee it up for charity Tuesday and Wednesday at Forsgate Country Club.

The golfers will conduct a skills exhibition, as well as a 9-hole skins game over the next two days. Tickets are $15 and are available for purchase on-site or in advance by calling (732) 656-8911. All proceeds will be donated to local charities. More information can be found at www.forsgatefoundation.org.

Used to be, the Americans couldn't wait for Sunday. For two days, while they would make excuses, the Europeans would make birdies. And with their usual contempt for team play, Team USA (that's Unhappy, Sullen and Ashamed) would pout its way around the golf course, hacking balls off limbs and plopping them into hazards and bunkers.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Americans would whine at bad breaks and drop to their knees when poorly struck putts didn't fall. They would grit their teeth and spit out the usual one-for-all-and-all-for-one baloney in the interview room when they could barely remember their playing partner's first name.

And then, while warming their hands with a cup of coffee, they would greet that Sunday sunrise with "Hallelujah, singles!" and, with drivers and wedges and putters, try to mount the miracle rally, usually in vain.

Bill Kostroun/Associated PressIreland defender Niamh Fahey, left, battles for control of the ball with U.S. forward Natasha Kai during the second half of Wednesday's friendly at Giants Stadium.

The New Jersey entry in Women's Professional Soccer next year was allocated the free-spirited Kai, along with Garden State natives Christie Rampone and Heather O'Reilly, on Tuesday.

Rampone and O'Reilly were bankable commodities, but there were concerns that Kai, a 25-year-old forward who sports 18 tattoos, might not connect to the fan base the team was trying to attract.

Wednesday night Kai scored the only goal, then ran to the sideline, grabbed a Sky Blue FC scarf and held it aloft for the fans to see, and the United States women's national team went on to beat Ireland, 1-0, before a crowd of 4,227 at Giants Stadium.

Mark Cornelison/Lexington Herald-Leader via MCTSergio Garcia tees off on the 13th hole during the practice round for the Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., Wednesday.

That they've won the past three Ryder Cups, possibly with hangovers?

That they fist-bump more than the Obamas?

That the guy with three names and a frizzy ponytail has to put down his cigar to putt?

Ian Poulter's pants?

That while celebrating a victory in 2006, they played drinking games like, "How far can you make the champagne squirt out of your nose?"

All good answers. But here's the right one: Sergio Garcia.

David Perry/Lexington Herald-Leader via MCTA not-so-secret agent for the European Ryder Cup team? Probably not, but certainly a fan whose loyalties are not in question.

Spies are everywhere, it seems. As the teams get ready for the start of competition Thursday, captain Paul Azinger said the Americans are being followed around the course by secret agents.

Meanwhile, European captain Nick Faldo -- who denied the espionage charge, by the way -- had a list of possible pairings, with players initials, photographed by the media on the seventh tee.

When Donald Trump opened his first golf club in New Jersey four years ago, Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, most thought he would be satisfied with having just one stake in the Garden State market.

Yeah, right.

Trump has broken from his track record of purchasing only one golf course per state and picked up the 4-year-old Shadow Isle Golf Club in Colts Neck. New Jersey is the first state to have two Trump clubs.

Ed Reinke/Associated PressUnited States Ryder Cup team captain Paul Azinger jokes with spectators during his team's practice session Tuesday at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

NBC analyst Johnny Miller made some friends on the U.S. team Tuesday when he picked the Americans on a hunch, because "if you're a gambler or a statistician, you could say, 'How can Europe keep making all these putts?' It's time, really, for the United States. If you are a betting man, the odds are that the putting is going to flip-flop in the United States' direction."

And then Miller, with the candor that has alienated many on the PGA Tour, made some of those new friends into enemies again by questioning captain Paul Azinger's four wild-card selections of Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan, Chad Campbell and J.B. Holmes.

Harry How/Getty ImagesAnthony Kim of the U.S. team hits a shot during a practice round prior to the start of the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

Chances are, if you've played in a Ryder Cup, he has peppered you with more questions than a special prosecutor.

Kim buttonholed Jim Furyk, cornered Justin Leonard, and there's a rumor his caddie shoved Phil Mickelson into a curbside limousine, windows tinted, with an invitation: "My boss wants to talk to you." Okay, maybe not. But in July, when Kim was a lock to make the American team, he trapped Chris DiMarco in the players' dining room at the Canadian Open in Ontario.