European Ryder Cup team profile
The Ryder cup teams are final. Just after Captain Corey Pavin announced the American team yesterday, both the teams that will be competing for the Ryder cup are decided. The Ryder cup is a biennial event that has gripped the sporting world. It is highly anticipated by golfers and golf fans alike. With players amalgamating to form remarkable teams, it is really a play off where the best face the best. So now that teams have been finalised, it is a good time to see what or who we should be expecting. Led by Captain Colin Montgomerie, the European team is a brilliant mixture of youth and experience.
Ross Fisher is playing for the Ryder cup this time. Ranked at No. 28 in the World, he led four majors last season. Fisher also won the Volvo Wolds Match Play and the Irish open during qualifying. The 29-year old English golfer was also the semi-finalist at the WGC-Accenture Match Play in 2009.
Where the US team consists of just American players, the European team brings together golfers from various countries. The Swedish Peter Hanson is also all set for the Ryder cup. He hasn’t won any majors and has 0 caps. However, his win in the Czech Open was the gateway into the Ryder cup. He impressed Captain Pavin with an 18-foot putt for the third play-off win out of three and second this season. Being the only Swedish player on the team, he is sure to be in the eyes of all the golf fans in Sweden.
Miguel Angel Jimenez is another star who has been in the media in the past few days. Winning the European Master Crans he has surely made Montgomerie glad that he’s in the team. Jimenez obtained his third European tour title of the season when he defeated Edoardo Molinari with a three-shot victory. Molinari will also be competing in the Ryder cup. Jimenez became the eldest winner of the event. The 46-year old is also termed as the biggest threat to the United States team due to his remarkable tactics and agility. Seven days before his win at the Omega Masters, Jimenez tied for third at the Johnnie Walker Championship. Due to this victory, he made the European team on points. Lucky break for Miguel, he captured the last automatic spot due to his game at Gleneagles.
The Spanish golfer ranks 27 on the World ranking and has 0 majors and 3 caps. Having been the assistant to Seve Ballestros in 1997, he has had 11 wins since he turned forty. Three of the wins were this year. Jimenez alone is keeping the Spanish record of at least one player in every European team since 1979.
Where almost every EU country is participating in the Ryder cup, Germany surely isn’t backing down. Martin Kaymer who belongs to Dusseldorf, Germany is very eager to bring the cup back to Europe. Known as Golf’s newest major champion, the 25-year old is ranked number six in the world. Kaymer won the US PGA championship and had his confidence hoisted to a whole new level. Beating the American Bubba Watson at Whistling Straits, Martin has had an amazing year and the Ryder Cup is all he needs to make it even better.
Graeme McDowell is one of the many Irish golfers taking part in the Ryder cup. Ranked number 14, McDowell won the US PGA open which was the second major tournament of the year. Becoming the first European to win at the US Open, Graeme really rocked the golf course at Pebble Beach. His victory came two weeks after the Wales Open win at Celtic Manor with 64-63 finish. This was his debut singles win over Stewart Cink. The Irish golfer has 1 cap and has 2.5 points.
Another Irish player taking part in the Ryder cup is Rory McIlroy. The 21-year old golfer is ranked number 7 in the world. Having no major wins and 0 caps, Rory is still known as the boy wonder of European gold. In the last two majors, he has finished third and three of the last five. McIlroy was victorious in America with closing 62 and began open with 63.
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