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EUROPE

CAPTAIN:

BERNHARD LANGER (Ger). 47. Caps: 10 (1981-83-85-87-89-91-93-95-97-02). Record: P42 W21 H6 L15. Majors: 2 (Masters 1985-93). Turned pro: 1976. Pro wins: 52. Second most capped player after Nick Faldo and now second continental captain after Seve Ballesteros. Unbeaten at The Belfry two years ago and fourth at the Masters in April. Missed putt that decided 1991 match, but ensured Europe kept cup in 1997.

THE 12-MAN TEAM (in alphabetical order)

PAUL CASEY (Eng). Age 27. Born Cheltenham, England. Caps: 0. Majors: 0. World ranking: 27. Turned pro: 2000. Pro wins: 3. Outstanding amateur who was twice English champion and won all four games in 1999 Walker Cup victory. First European Tour win came in only his 11th start and was considered for wild card by Sam Torrance in 2001. Sixth on Masters debut in April.

DARREN CLARKE (N.Ire). 36. Dungannon, Northern Ireland. Caps: 3 (1997-99-02). Record: P12 W4 H2 L6. Majors: 0. World ranking: 15. Turned pro: 1990. Pro wins: 12. Only player to have two rounds of 60 on European Tour. Winner of two World Golf Championships titles in America. Beat Tiger Woods in the final of the 2000 match play, but no victories since August last year.

LUKE DONALD (Eng). 26. Hemel Hempstead, England. Caps: 0. Majors: 0. World ranking: 36. Turned pro: 2001. Pro wins: 3. Won a month before and seven days after being handed wild card. Winner of seven out of eight Walker Cup games, including two with Paul Casey as his partner, and member of Britain and Ireland team which lifted 1998 world title. Won on US Tour in his first full year as a pro.

SERGIO GARCIA (Spa). 24. Castellon, Spain. Caps: 2 (1999-02). Record: P10 W6 H1 L3. Majors: 0. World ranking: 12. Turned pro: 1999. Pro wins: 13. Won on sixth start as a pro and at age 19 became youngest player in Ryder Cup history a month after finishing second to Tiger Woods at US PGA. 100% record in foursomes. Two wins on US Tour this season after deciding to make swing changes.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON (Ire). 33. Dublin, Ireland. Caps: 2 (1999-02). Record: P7 W3 H1 L3. Majors: 0. World ranking: 8. Turned pro: 1995. Pro wins: 10. Member of victorious 1995 Walker Cup side and World Cup winner with Paul McGinley in 1997. Twice second on European Order of Merit and 24 runners-up finishes, including last two Players Championships in Florida. Winner on Sunday of German Masters.

DAVID HOWELL (Eng). 29. Swindon, England. Caps: 0. Majors: 0. World ranking: 68. Turned pro: 1995. Pro wins: 2. Former British boy champion who was team-mate of Harrington at 1995 Walker Cup and holed winning putt. First pro win came in Australia by seven shots, then won 1999 Dubai Desert Classic by four, but has not tasted success since. Broke arm two years ago when he fell while jogging.

MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ (Spa). 40. Malaga, Spain. Caps: 1 (1999). Record: P5 W1 H2 L2. Majors: 0. World ranking: 20. Turned pro: 1982. Pro wins: 12. Assistant to Seve Ballesteros in 1997, then earned debut and is back now after five wins during qualifying race. Second at 2000 US Open to Woods and lost play-off to him in 1999 American Express world championship.

THOMAS LEVET (Fra). 36. Paris, France. Caps: 0. Majors: 0. World ranking: 43. Turned pro: 1988. Pro wins: 3. After six trips to European tour qualifying school nearly won 2002 Open, losing five-hole play-off to Ernie Els. Scottish Open winner in July. Grandfather was professional cyclist and mother a volleyball international. Second Frenchman - after Jean Van de Velde in 1999 - to make team.

PAUL McGINLEY (Ire). 37. Dublin, Ireland. Caps: 1 (2002). Record: P3 W0 H2 L1. Majors: 0. World ranking: 67. Turned pro: 1991. Pro wins: 3. Match-winning hero of last match, holing 10-foot putt against Jim Furyk for the half Europe needed. Beat Phil Mickelson during 1991 Walker Cup and won World Cup with Padraig Harrington seven years ago. Ex-Gaelic footballer.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE (Sco). 41. Glasgow, Scotland. Caps: 6 (1991-93-95-97-99-02). Record: P28 W16 H5 L7. Majors: 0. World ranking: 62. Turned pro: 1987. Pro wins: 36. Wild card pick for first time. Seven-time European number one who has never lost in Ryder Cup singles and was top-scorer at The Belfry two years ago. Place in doubt after marriage break-up in April, but adds much-needed experience.

IAN POULTER (Eng). 28. Hitchin, England. Caps: 0. Majors: 0. World ranking: 60. Turned pro: 1994. Pro wins: 5. After making it on to Tour at fourth attempt won Rookie of the Year and then just missed out on cup debut in 2001. Clinched last place this time after playing final eight holes in six under. Known for colourful hairstyles and this summer extrovert Union Jack and Stars and Stripes trousers.

LEE WESTWOOD (Eng). 31. Worksop, England. Caps: 3 (1997-99-02). Record: P15 W7 H0 L8. Majors: 0. World ranking: 41. Turned pro: 1993. Pro wins: 26. European number one in 2000 who then slumped from fourth in world to outside top 250. Launched comeback late last year and was fourth in Open this July. Has lifted titles all around the world, including come-from-behind win over Tiger Woods in Germany.

THE UNITED STATES

CAPTAIN:

HAL SUTTON. Shreveport, Louisiana. Caps: 4 (1985-87-99-02). Record: P16 W7 H4 L5. Majors: 1 (US PGA 1983). Turned pro: 1981. Pro wins: 14. Beat Jack Nicklaus for PGA title in only his second season on US Tour and led the money list that year. Career dipped alarmingly in early 1990s, but fought his way back to Ryder Cup after 12-year gap.

THE 12-MAN TEAM (In alphabetical order):

CHAD CAMPBELL. 30. Andrews, Texas. Caps: 0. Majors: 0. World ranking: 14. Turned pro: 1996. Pro wins: 2. Just beaten to US PGA title by Shaun Micheel last year, then had long-awaited breakthrough at season-ending Tour Championship. Added Bay Hill title in March, but has disappointed since, missing cut in first three majors.

STEWART CINK. 31. Huntsville, Alabama. Caps: 1 (2001). Record: P3 W1 L2. Majors: 0. World ranking: 10. Turned pro: 1995. Pro wins: 4. Wild card pick after finishing 14th on points table and celebrated with superb world championship win a week later. Had 100% record in 2000 Presidents Cup and heads US Tour putting category with Tiger Woods this season.

CHRIS DiMARCO. 35. Huntington, New York. Caps: 0. Majors: 0. World ranking: 17. turned pro: 1990. Pro wins: 3. Grabbed spot with second place finish at US PGA. Won two out of five games on Presidents Cup debut last year. Made first hole-in-one aged 10 - "no-one can dispute it because I was playing with two priests." Top 20 on US Tour last four years using unusual "claw" grip when putting.

FRED FUNK. 48. Takoma Park, Maryland. Caps: 0. Majors: 0. World ranking: 59. Turned pro: 1981. Pro wins: 6. Only one victory in last eight years, but had career-best nine top 10 finishes last season and was given wild card by Jack Nicklaus into Presidents Cup. Now becomes one of oldest-ever Ryder Cup debutants. He studied law enforcement before turning pro.

JIM FURYK. 34. West Chester, Pennsylvannia. Caps: 3 (1997-99-02). Record: P11 W3 H2 L6. Majors: 1 (US Open 2003). World ranking: 11. Turned pro: 1992. Pro wins: 10. Underwent wrist surgery in March and made unexpectedly early return at US Open just three weeks later. First major win came as no surprise. Was the opponent when Paul McGinley made the winning putt two years ago.

JAY HAAS. 50. St Louis, Missouri. Caps: 2 (1983-95). Record: P8 W3 H1 L4. Majors: 0. World ranking: 23. Turned pro: 1976. Pro wins: 10. Second oldest player in cup history after Ray Floyd. Given wild card after losing automatic spot on last day of race despite no wins since 1993. Lost deciding match to Philip Walton on last cup appearance.

DAVIS LOVE. 40. Charlotte, North Carolina. Caps: 5 (1993-95-97-99-02). Record: P21 W8 H4 L9. Majors: 1 (US PGA 1997). World ranking: 6. Turned pro: 1985. Pro wins: 27. Just one major a poor return for someone who has earned over 26 million dollars. Gave America victory at The Belfry on his debut and is now their most experienced player. Runner-up to Tiger Woods in world match play in February.

PHIL MICKELSON. 34. San Diego, California. Caps: 4 (1995-97-99-02). Record: P16 W8 H3 L5. Majors: 1 (Masters 2004). World ranking: 4. Turned pro: 1992. Pro wins: 24. After 17 top 10 finishes in majors finally won the Masters in spectacular finish in April and has since finished second in the US Open and third in the Open. Lost vital singles to Phil Price at The Belfry in last match.

KENNY PERRY. 44. Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Caps: 0. Majors: 0. World ranking: 16. Turned pro: 1982. Pro wins: 7. Lost play-off for US PGA in 1996 to Mark Brooks and came to prominence only last year when three wins helped him finish sixth on US Tour money list. Ended season by earning second Presidents Cup cap and has won six of nine games in that competition.

CHRIS RILEY. 30. San Diego, California. Caps: 0. Majors: 0. World ranking: 40. Turned pro: 1996. Pro wins: 1. Grabbed last spot in team when Justin Leonard lost play-off at USPGA. Married to lady pro Michelle Louviere, who had their first child a week ago. Team-mate of Tiger Woods at 1995 Walker Cup. Only victory was in 2002 Reno-Tahoe Open.

DAVID TOMS. 37. Monroe, Louisiana. Caps: 1 (2002). Record: P5 W3 H1 L1. Majors: 1 (US PGA 2001). World ranking: 22. Turned pro: 1989. Pro wins: 10. Shot lowest total in major history in pipping Phil Mickelson for the PGA and they were partners at The Belfry, losing only one of four games. Toms then beat Sergio Garcia to be America's top scorer in the match.

TIGER WOODS. 28. Cypress, California. Caps: 3 (1997-99-02). Record: Played 15 Won 5 Halved 2 Lost 8. Majors: 8 (Masters 1997-01-02, US Open 2000-02, Open 2000, US PGA 1999-00). World ranking: 2. Turned pro: 1996. Pro wins: 53. Only man to hold all four majors at same time and world number one for five years, but lost it to Vijay Singh last week. Yet to be seen at his best playing for his country either as amateur or pro.

Note: All world rankings as at September 11

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