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Carrying the hopes of a continent: Sport360°'s Ryder Cup 2014 player guide

The 2014 Ryder Cup tees off on Friday morning as 24 of the finest golfers on the planet battle for one of the most prized trophies in sport - the Ryder Cup.

Everyone remembers the 'Miracle of Medinah' when Europe produced one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time to clinch the trophy.

Will Europe continue to mark their recent dominance of the tournament? Or will a Tiger Woods-less USA team defy the odds and win their first trophy on European soil since 1993?

All will be revealed on Sunday...

TEAM EUROPE

Paul McGinley (c)

Age: 47
Caps: 3 (2002, 2004, 2006)
Record: Won 2 Lost 2 Halved 5
His record may pale in comparison to his American counterpart, but McGinley’s stature in European golf, especially the Ryder Cup, is unparalleled. A strategist to the core, he has been part of five winning teams – three as player and two as vicecaptain. He has an amazing connect with his team.

Thomas Bjorn

World ranking: 30
Age: 43
Caps: 2 (1997, 2002)
Record: Won 3 Lost 2 Halved 1
Has not played in the biennial contest since 2002 but brings vast experience to the side after acting as vicecaptain in 2004, 2010 and 2012. Victory in the lucrative Nedbank Golf Challenge at the end of 2013 was the catalyst for his return to the side. Has maintained decent form this year.

Jamie Donaldson

World ranking: 20
Age: 38
Caps: 0
Record: Debutant
Secured his place on the team in brilliant style by winning the penultimate counting event, the Czech Masters. Had shown great early season form before slipping a bit around the Open Championship. But what matters is current form, and he is back to his solid best again with three top-10s in his last three starts.

Stephen Gallacher

World ranking:34
Age: 39
Caps: 0
Record: Debutant
The two-time Dubai Desert Classic champion made a spectacular attempt to qualify on his own. He is extremely motivated to follow in the footsteps of uncle Bernard Gallacher, who is a European Ryder Cup legend. The Scotsman will surely thrive on crowd support as he lives just 60kms from Gleneagles.

Sergio Garcia

World ranking: 3
Age: 34
Caps: 6 (1999, 2002, ‘04, ‘06, ‘08, ‘12)
Record: Won 16 Lost 8 Halved 4
Given his immense passion for the Ryder Cup, the Spaniard is as important to Europe as Poulter. And it also helps that one of the finest ball-strikers in the world has turned his previously weak putting into an asset this year. Garcia will be a real threat to the Americans.

Victor Dubuisson

World ranking: 23
Age: 24
Caps: 0
Record: Debutant
A fantastic end to his season last year, when he won the Turkish Open, finished third at the DP World Tour Championship, and then his awesome performance in reaching the final of the WGC Match Play helped him secure his spot. A shoulder injury in May this year has impacted the form of the quiet Frenchman.

Graeme McDowell

World ranking: 18
Caps: 3 (2008, 2010, 2012)
Record: Won 5 Lost 5 Halved 2
Held on to the qualifying 1.61 points after Stephen Gallacher was unable to finish in the top two in Italy. Successfully defended his French Open crown this year. Recently became a father and is in great spirits generally. Will be interesting to see who he partners.

Martin Kaymer

World ranking: 12
Age: 29
Caps: 2 (2010, 2012)
Record: Won 3 Lost 2 Halved 1
The man who famously made the winning putt at Medinah is struggling slightly with a shoulder injury, which is getting better. Has had a fantastic season winning both the Players and US Open by leading from start to finish, but was upstaged by McIlroy in the last few months.

Ian Poulter

World ranking: 37
Age: 38
Caps: 4 (2004, ‘08, ‘10, ‘12)
Record: Won 12 Lost 3 Halves 0
Has earned the nickname of ‘Mr Ryder Cup’ and it’s not hard to see why. Has twice needed a wild card, including in 2012, but has raised his game on every occasion and no more so than at Medinah, winning all four of his matches there. Current form not great, but that doesn’t matter with Poulter.

Rory McIlroy

World ranking: 1
Age: 25
Caps: 2 (2010, 2012)
Record: Won 4 Lost 3 Halved 2
Finished top of both qualifying lists thanks to his brilliant season, which included two major victories, but he did appear tired towards the end of the FedEx Cup Playoffs. A week’s rest, and the unique environment of the Ryder Cup, which he once described as “an exhibition”, will surely spur him on.

Henrik Stenson

World ranking: 4
Age: 38
Caps: 2 (2006, 2008)
Record: Won 2 Lost 3 Halved 2
Was the first player to seal his place in the team when he won the DP World Tour Championship last year. And even though he hasn’t won anything this year, Stenson has had a consistent season, with top-five finishes in the US Open and the PGA Championship. His wit will light up the locker room.

Justin Rose

World ranking: 6
Age: 34
Caps: 2 (2008, 2012)
Record: Won 6, Lost 3, Halved 0
It beats logic how somebody like Rose could have played just two Ryder Cups in his career so far. That is about to change for the man who birdied the final two holes to beat Phil Mickelson in the 2012 singles. Won back-toback titles on both sides of Atlantic this year and did well in the Playoffs.

Lee Westwood

World ranking: 41
Age: 41, Caps: 8 (1997, ‘99, 2002, ‘04, ‘06, ‘08, ‘10, ‘12)
Record: Won 18 Lost 13 Halved 6
May not have been in the best of forms lately, but showed his intention by getting super fit for the Ryder Cup – losing more than 10kgs in the past four weeks. Boasts vast experience with eight consecutive appearances. Has shot a couple of low rounds recently.

TEAM USA

Tom Watson (c)

Age: 63
Caps: 4 (1977, 1981, 1983, 1989)
Record: Wins 10 Lost 4 Halved 1
With just two wins in nine Ryder Cups since Watson led the team to a win at the Belfry (1993), the task is cut out for the American legend. But if there is one player who can lead a side based on his reputation, it is the eighttime major champion, who almost won the 2009 Open Championship, aged 59.

Keegan Bradley

World ranking: 26
Age 28, Caps 1 (2012)
Record: Won 3 Lost 1 Halved 0
Made a spectacular debut at Medinah and formed a superb partnership with Phil Mickelson, winning their first three matches before controversially opting out of the Saturday afternoon fourballs citing fatigue. Gets extremely charged up and could well become America’s answer to Ian Poulter in the future.

Jim Furyk

World ranking: 5
Age: 44
Caps: 8 (1997, ‘99, 2002, ‘04, ‘06, ‘08, ‘10, ‘12)
Record: Won 9 Lost 17 Halved 4
The highest ranked American, Furyk has not won a title since the 2010 Tour Championship, losing the past eight times when he has led or shared the lead after 54 holes. Does not have a very good Ryder Cup record, but playing very consistent golf the last two years.

Matt Kuchar

World ranking: 9
Age: 36
Caps: 2 (2010, 2012)
Record: Won 3 Lost 2 Halved 2
The ever-smiling Kuchar won last year’s WGC Match Play crown and has impressive other titles including 2012 Players Championship and 2013 Memorial. He won the Heritage back in April. Withdrew from PGA Championship with a nagging back injury, but America’s Mr Consistent is healthy again.

Phil Mickelson

World ranking: 11
Age: 44
Caps: 9 (1995, ‘97, ‘99, 2002, ‘04, ‘06, ‘08, ‘10, ‘12)
Record: Won 14 Lost 18 Halved 6
Will make a record 10th appearance in a row for the Americans in the Ryder Cup. Did not claim an automatic spot until a runner-up showing at the PGA Championship. But he was struggling again at the FedEx Cup and could not make it to the Tour Championship.

Rickie Fowler

World ranking: 10
Age: 25
Caps: 1 (2010)
Record: Won 0 Lost 1 Haved 2
Seeks his first Ryder Cup match win after making his US debut in 2010. This year he became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2005 to finish in the top five in all four majors, including shares of second at the US and British Opens, third at the PGA Championship and fifth at the Masters.

Hunter Mahan

World ranking: 21
Age: 32
Caps 2 (2008, 2010)
Record: Won 3, Lost 2, Halved 3
Unbeaten at Valhalla in 2008, Mahan is best remembered for losing the vital singles match to Graeme McDowell at Celtic Manor in 2010. A renowned match-play exponent, he impressed Tom Watson after winning The Barclays, but has played in the 60s just once in 12 rounds since then.

Zach Johnson

World ranking: 15
Age: 38
Caps: 3 (2006, 2010, 2012)
Record: Won 6 Lost 4 Halved 1
After a great end to the 2013 season, when he won the BMW Championship and Tiger’s World Challenge, followed by the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii earlier this year, Johnson has cooled down considerably and has just one top-10 finish in his last 16 starts, but his class is unquestioned.

Patrick Reed

World ranking: 27
Age: 24
Caps: 0
Record: Debutant
The Ryder Cup rookie won his first PGA Tour title last year at Greensboro and added two more, including a World Golf Championships victory at Doral, this year. Another American player who has not shown much spark in recent months, although he did finish tied fourth at WGC-Bridgestone. His confidence is amazing.

Jimmy Walker

World ranking: 19
Age 35
Caps: 0
Record: Debutant
The man with the most unusual hobby – astrophotography, and he is so good even NASA use his images – could be the new Ryder Cup star as he makes his debut at age 35 after one of the most amazing and consistent season. Won his first PGA Tour title in his 188th start and claimed two more victories in his next seven events.

Jordan Spieth

World ranking: 13
Age: 21
Caps: 0
Record: Debutant
Spieth, who finished second at this year’s Masters, won the John Deere Classic last year at the age of 19, becoming the first teenager to win a PGA Tour event since Ralph Guldahl in 1931. The 2013 Rookie of the Year has superstar potential and could well be the answer to America’s Ryder Cup issues for many years.

Webb Simpson

World ranking: 33
Age: 29
Caps: 1 (2012)
Record: Won 2 Lost 2 Halved 0
Picked by Watson on the strength of his two resounding fourball wins alongside Bubba Watson at Medinah, the 2012 US Open champion has either been sublime or average this year with five top-fives and six missed cuts. America will be hoping Simpson is his usual consistent self this week.

Bubba Watson

World ranking: 7
Age 35
Caps: 2 (2010, 2012)
Record: Won 3 Lost 5 Halved 0
Effectively secured his place on the team with his second Masters title at Augusta in April, having already won the Northern Trust Open earlier in the season. However, after a superb early half, Watson did not do much before finishing second at the BMW Championship earlier this month.


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