The US Ryder Cup team

Profiles of the US Ryder Cup team

Scott Verplank
Age:  38
World ranking: 28
Won the Canadian Open last year shortly after his selection as a vindication of captain Curtis Strange's decision to pick a rookie as a wild card. One of the straightest drivers on tour, he is also very good on the greens. Should play the fourballs. Tough character that has fought off severe diabetes and injury. Could surprise a few pundits and became a big player.

Tiger Woods
Age:  26
World ranking: 1
The best in the world, coming off the back of a marvellous victory in Mount Juliet. Only one bogey in 72 holes. Not a great matchplay record in this competition, but his partners have often struggled alongside him. Could get his good friend Mark Calcavecchia as a foil. Five wins this season (US Masters, US Open) and no missed cuts.

Paul Azinger
Age:  42
World ranking: 51
The last time he played, in 1993, his body was already stricken with cancer and a previously excellent record was distorted by losing every match on that occasion. He fought serious illness and won, typical of the strong character that he is. Strange overlooked several players to choose Azinger, then ranked 22nd in the Ryder Cup listings.

Stewart Cink
Age: 29
World ranking: 59
An American rookie hoping that once he inhales the matchplay format the disappointments of a season that has seen him miss five cuts and fail to make the top four in a US tour event can be banished. In the President's Cup he won three matches with Kirk Triplett and beat Greg Norman in the singles.

Davis Love
Age:  38
World ranking: 7
His victory at Pebble Beach last year was his first for three years. The closest he has got is a couple of second places. High-profile cameos in a couple of the majors ended in disappointment. Hits the ball an enormous distance but occasionally wayward and can be a little brittle on the greens. Will be a central player for the United States.

Scott Hoch
Age:  46
World ranking: 30
Permanently trotting round with a scowl on his puss as if carrying the weight of the world on his slim shoulders. Has told Strange that he doesn't want to play at the Belfry if it's cold and windy until he has to in the singles. One of the shortest hitters on the US tour, he's a gritty match player, although he won't be conceded too many short putts (US Masters 1989, 18 inches).

Phil Mickelson
Age:  32
World ranking: 2
The birdie machine. Possessor of one of the great short games, but erratic off the tee and, for such a smooth putting stroke, can be horribly unreliable occasionally from in close. Has a brilliant matchplay record, which suggests he likes the "mano-a-mano" duels. Probably won't play foursomes, unless his partner likes playing out of the trees.

Jim Furyk
Age:  32
World ranking: 10
A theme running through this US team is a preference among several of the players for singles: they thrive on their own but underachieve in a partnership. Furyk is a classic example. No one has taken him past the 16th hole in singles, in either the Ryder Cup or President's Cups. Gritty performer.

Hal Sutton
Age:  44
World ranking: 125
The team leader at Brookline and the man who beat Darren Clarke in the singles. His form this season will probably be giving Strange sleepless nights as Sutton is in double figures for missed cuts and has no top 10 finishes. For team morale he will be important, but how often will Strange let him loose?

David Duval
Age:  30
World ranking: 12
One of the players who wanted to be paid on his first Ryder Cup appearance last time out. As one journalist observed, it wouldn't have been on a performance-related basis. The quiet Texan turned into a rootin' tootin', fist-pumping tyro in the final day singles. His golf this season has been woeful, although he has played a little better of late.

Mark Calcavecchia
Age:  42
World ranking: 43
Took him a long time to get over his staggering collapse against Colin Montgomerie in 1991, ending up with only a half that day. He is brilliant in foursomes (unbeaten) and brutal in fourballs (winless), but could be paired with Tiger Woods. Strange told him that he (Calcavecchia) would be "riding the pine" if his form didn't improve. He then finished seventh at the US PGA.

David Toms
Age:  35
World ranking: 6
As the crowds at Mount Juliet will have noticed, he may not be among the stellar names in golf despite last year's US PGA Championship success but he is a much under-rated player. Although this is his debut, he has shown an aptitude for coping with pressure. Very solid all-round game that could see him play in every session.