Ryder Cup: The European team
Who are the men charged with wrestling the Ryder Cup back from the USA at Celtic Manor? Let's meet Monty's maestros.
Lee Westwood Worksop, England. Age: 37. World ranking: three
Ryder Cups: six, matches played 29, won 14, halved 5, lost 10.
Majors: 0
Last year's Race to Dubai winner, his recent major results include runner-up at Masters and Open this year. Leading qualifier for Ryder Cup, but has been out with an injury since the beginning of August. Enjoyed 11-game unbeaten run to equal cup record before he lost a fourball match in 2008. Has battled back from gradual slip down the rankings in early 2000s to his current status as Europe's No. 1, with first win on US tour in 12 years earlier this summer.
Rory McIlroy Holywood, Northern Ireland. Age: 21. World ranking: nine
Ryder Cups: 0
Majors: 0
Touted as a future superstar, and already approaching that status just three years after turning professional, having become a permanent fixture in the world's top 10 and winning in the US in impressive style this year with final round 62. Shot a record-breaking first round 63 at Open earlier this year only to see good work undone by treacherous weather conditions on the Friday - recovered well to finish tied for third place. Has also enjoyed a third-place finish at this year's PGA Championship.
Martin Kaymer Dusseldorf, Germany. Age: 25. World ranking: six
Ryder Cups: 0
Majors: 1 (PGA Championship 2010)
Saw off Bubba Watson in play-off at PGA Championship to take his first major. Attended the Ryder Cup in 2008 after narrowly missing out on Ryder Cup team. Enjoyed top-10 finishes in US Open and Open at St Andrews earlier this year, and won on European Tour at beginning of the year.
Graeme McDowell Portrush, Northern Ireland. Age: 31. World ranking: 13
Ryder Cups: one, matches played 4, won 2, halved 1, lost 1.
Majors: 1 (US Open 2010)
Took advantage of leader Dustin Johnson's dreadful final round of US Open in June to win his first major, having won the Wales Open a few weeks prior to that at Celtic Manor, the venue for this year's Ryder Cup. Quiet since then.
Ian Poulter Hitchin, England. Age: 34. World ranking: 16
Ryder Cups: two, matches played 7, won 6, halved 0, lost 1.
Majors: 0
Wildcard pick at previous tournament and justified that decision by scoring four out of five points, proving to be Europe's outstanding performer in 2008. Current WGC-Accenture Match Play champion, edging out Paul Casey in final. Was runner-up at 2008 Open.
Ross Fisher Ascot, England. Age: 29. World ranking: 27
Ryder Cups: 0
Majors: 0
Won Irish Open earlier this year, and beat Anthony Kim to take Volvo World Match Play Championship last November. Also a semi-finalist at last year's WGC-Accenture Match Play, and second at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth - losing at both events to Paul Casey, overlooked for this competition.
Francesco Molinari Turin, Italy. Age: 27. World ranking: 32
Ryder Cups: 0
Majors: 0
Younger half of two brothers who won World Cup in China last year, will be reunited with Edoardo at this competition. Has 10 top-10 finishes this year on European Tour and two second places, though his only European Tour win came back in 2006. Best performance at a major is his tie for 10th place at last year's PGA Championship.
Peter Hanson Svedala, Sweden. Age: 32. World ranking: 42
Ryder Cups: 0
Majors: 0
Broke into the team after winning the Czech Open in August - a competition the Swede hadn't even planned on playing, before a late invite saw him nail his second European Tour win of the year. Best finish at a major was his tie for 16th place at the US Open earlier this year. Notable for ability to keep nerve in tense situations, three of his four Tour wins coming after play-offs.
Miguel Ángel Jiménez Malaga, Spain. Age: 46. World ranking: 26
Ryder Cups: three, matches played 12, won 2, halved 3, lost 7.
Majors: 0
Ducked his nephew's wedding to appear at Gleneagles in order to confirm what will probably be his last Ryder Cup appearance. Assistant to Seve Ballesteros in 1997. Defeated Lee Westwood in Dubai this February in a play-off, and won another play-off at French Open in June, but Ryder Cup record not especially strong.
Luke Donald Hemel Hempstead, England. Age: 32. World ranking: 8
Ryder Cups: two, matches played 7, won 5, halved 1, lost 1.
Majors: 0
Missed 2008 competition with strained wrist. His previous foursomes win at the Ryder Cup came in tandem with Sergio Garcia, who is absent from this year's event. Third at Wales Open, Celtic Manor earlier this year. Also won the Madrid Masters in 2010. Second time as a wildcard pick.
Padraig Harrington Dublin, Ireland. Age: 39. World ranking: 22
Ryder Cups: five, matches played 21, won 7, halved 3, lost 11.
Majors: 3 (Open 2007, 2008, PGA Championship 2008)
Only multiple major winner on the team, but detractors would argue he's getting by on past glories, with no tour victories in the last two years. Recent record at Ryder Cup is also poor, Harrington not winning a game in 2006 or '08. Captain Colin Montgomerie believes experience will be useful though, and Harrington is clearly well liked, a bonus in the team environment.
Edoardo Molinari Turin, Italy. Age: 29. World ranking: 15
Ryder Cups: 0
Majors: 0
Will resume successful partnership with his brother Francesco here - the two teamed up to win the World Cup last year. Birdied last three holes at Johnnie Walker Championship to win an hour before Montgomerie revealed Ryder Cup wildcards, a finish that convinced the captain to include Molinari on the team. Won Scottish Open, and was also tied for fourth place at Celtic Manor earlier this Summer. The Molinari's are the first brothers to compete together in a Ryder Cup side since Bernard and Geoffery Hunt played for the Great Britain and Ireland in 1963.
For USA profiles, click http://www.senore.com/Ryder-Cup-The-USA-team-a29922.
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