Europe's Ryder Cup team
Golf: A closer look at the 12 European players who will look to defend the Ryder Cup at Medinah in Chicago at the end of next month.
NICOLAS COLSAERTS
Age 29. Brussels, Belgium. Caps 0. Majors 0. World rank 35.
The only uncapped member of Europe’s team. Three years ago was 1,305th in the world and searching for somewhere to play after losing European Tour card, but in remarkable comeback won China Open last year and this May captured Volvo World Match Play. Biggest hitter on Tour last year and this. Chosen as wild card.
LUKE DONALD
34. Hemel Hempstead, England. Caps 3 (2004-06-10). Record P11 W8 H1 L2. Majors 0. Rank 2.
Lost only one of 10 games in amateur Walker Cup and in Ryder Cups has been beaten only twice in 11. Perfect six out of six record in foursomes partnering Sergio Garcia four times and Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood once each. World No 1 for most of past year and top money-winner in Europe and America last season.
SERGIO GARCIA
32. Castellon, Spain. Caps 5 (1999-2002-04-06-08). Record P24 W14 H4 L6. Majors 0. Rank 14.
Slumped from second to 85th in world before two wins in Spain late last year and another on US Tour in penultimate week of race. Remains only teenager to play, debut coming a month after he was second to Tiger Woods at Medinah in 1999 USPGA. Unbeaten in nine foursomes, eight of them wins and four of those with Luke Donald.
PETER HANSON
34. Svedala, Sweden. Caps 1 (2010). Record P3 W1 L2. Majors 0. Rank 34.
Made debut at Celtic Manor after winning penultimate event of points race and taking last automatic spot. Joint third in this April’s Masters, where he led with a round to go, and seventh in USPGA. Has also had five top 10 finishes in World Championships, including quarter-finals of February’s Accenture Match Play.
MARTIN KAYMER
27. Dusseldorf, Germany. Caps 1 (2010). Record P4 W2 H1 L1. Majors 1 (2010 USPGA). Rank 27.
World number one for eight weeks last year. Beat Bubba Watson in play-off for first major and won next two tournaments as well either side of his cup debut. Closing 63 gave him his first World Championship victory in Shanghai last November, but clung on to last automatic spot after no top 10s since April.
PAUL LAWRIE
43. Aberdeen, Scotland. Caps 1 (1999). Record P5 W3 H1 L1. Majors 1 (1999 Open). Rank 30.
Only Christy O’Connor Jnr waited longer — 14 years — for a second cap. Hit the opening shot on his debut in 1999 and scored 3 1/2 points out of five. Two months earlier won Open from a major record 10 shots back on final day. Had first win for nine years last season and finished qualifying campaign with another victory.
GRAEME McDOWELL
33. Portrush, Northern Ireland. Caps 2 (2008-10). Record P8 W4 H2 L2. Majors 1 (2010 US Open). Rank 13
