Pavin impressed by Dustin Johnson's attitude

FROM THE SCOTSMAN.COM WEBSITE
American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin has praised the way Dustin Johnson handled the two-shot penalty which cost him a chance of a first major title.
And Pavin believes Johnson could be all the stronger for it when it comes to his Ryder Cup debut at Celtic Manor in October.

The 26-year-old was one ahead with one to play in the US PGA Championship on Sunday when his club touched sand in what was deemed a  bunker before he hit his second shot.

After bogeying the hole and falling – he thought – into a play-off, Johnson was told he was being penalised and as a result dropped to fifth.

The debate is still going on about the harshness of the punihment for what Johnson did in "a piece of dirt" where the crowd had been walking, but the one saving grace was that he still climbed into an automatic qualifying spot for the match against Europe.

Pavin, still not saying that he will definitely include World No 1 Tiger Woods amongst his four picks on September 12, said today: "Obviously it was an unfortunate incident that happened. The ruling was what the ruling was – I think it was the proper ruling.

"The one thing that I will remember from this more than anything is the way Dustin handled himself. He was very mature – I couldn't imagine a player handling it any better than he did."

Johnson also blew the US Open with a closing 82, but when asked if Johnson's morale would need a boost when the team gathers, Pavin replied: "I don't think there's anything that needs to be raised.

"If anything, I'll probably have to calm him down for The Ryder Cup. I think what I've watched in Dustin this year, to have what happened to him at the US Open, is very hard as a player.

"But you can just see how much he's learned from there, from the British Open (Johnson fell off the leaderboard by going out of bounds at the last) to the PGA Championship.

"It's important as a golfer to grow and to learn how to handle pressure. I've seen a tremendous amount of growth in him this year in that regard.

"He's a young guy and he's learning very quickly. I like to see that."
On Woods, who failed to make the top eight, Pavin commented when asked the pros and cons of selecting him: "He's the No. 1 player in the world – that's a pretty good pro.

"Obviously I'm considering him highly, no doubt about it. He's playing better. I think we have all seen that and he wants to play, he wants to be a part of the team.

"But it's going to be my judgment whether I pick him or not.
"I don't think there's any cons."

Along with Woods and, dependent on somebody not dominating the next three weeks, Pavin is expected to add Anthony Kim – providing he is fit enough following his thumb surgery – as well as last year's Open champion Stewart Cink and former Masters winner Zach Johnson, third on Sunday.