Azinger drops Mahan chance hint

Hunter Mahan could still win a place on America's Ryder Cup team despite criticising the event, according to captain Paul Azinger.

The 26-year-old recently described the players participating in the Ryder Cup as 'slaves' during the week of the tournament, while feeling it has now become enjoyment free and he also predicted that players would boycott it in the future.

However Mahan now finds himself in contention of securing a place in the US team as he sits 10th in the US points table with just a week left in their qualifying race after an impressive campaign.

With no Tiger Woods due to injury the top nine will automatically qualify, while Azinger has four wildcard picks at his disposal. And, despite admitting Mahan's comments could go against him, the captain feels he deserves a second opportunity.

"He's wrong. It's a lot of opinion for someone who hasn't been to the Ryder Cup," Azinger told BBC 5 Live.

"But he's done all the right things and if he's hot then he's getting picked, if he's not then I'll sidestep him."

He added: "He regrets his comments. I feel he's done all the right things. He called me right away and I told him I didn't take it personally.

"It's an old argument that the PGA of America has addressed. I don't know who he talked to, it doesn't even matter to me who he talked to, but somebody from the past influenced him a little bit.

"You've got to give young people a break, give anybody a break, when they make a mistake."