A look at the Europeans
A capsule look at the European team for the 38th Ryder Cup matches, to be played Oct. 1-3 at Celtic Manor. Players listed in the order they made the team.
LEE WESTWOOD
Age: 37.
Country: England.
World ranking: 3.
Ryder Cup teams: 6.
Ryder Cup record: 14-10-5.
Career victories: 30.
Majors: None.
2010 victories: St. Jude Classic.
2010 majors: Masters-2, US Open-T16, British Open-2, PGA-DNP.
Ryder Cup moment: Won his first singles match at Oakland Hills, which assured Europe of retaining the Ryder Cup.
Backspin: He went from Europe's best to an uncertain leader with a calf injury that forced him to withdraw from the Bridgestone Invitational and take six weeks off. His next competition will be the Ryder Cup, although any rust can be compensated through match play. He has figured out how to make his game peak for the biggest events, and Celtic Manor likely will be no different.
RORY McILROY
Age: 21.
Country: Northern Ireland.
World ranking: 8.
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie.
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0.
Career victories: 2.
Majors: None.
2010 victories: Quail Hollow Championship.
2010 majors: Masters-Cut, US Open-Cut, British Open-T3, PGA-T3.
Ryder Cup moment: Won his singles match at Royal County Down in the 2007 Walker Cup.
Backspin: One of the most explosive players in golf as he showed with a course-record 62 to win the Quail Hollow Championship, and by tying the major championship record of 63 at St. Andrews in the British Open. His putting can be suspect at times, but his ability off the tee and to the green is not. Showed he can cope with the pressure by performing solidly down the stretch at the PGA Championship. He will be the youngest player at the Ryder Cup.
MARTIN KAYMER
Age: 25.
Country: Germany.
World ranking: 5.
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie.
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0.
Career victories: 7.
Majors: PGA Championship (1).
2010 victories: Abu Dhabi Championship, PGA Championship, KLM Open.
2010 majors: Masters-Cut, US Open-T8, British Open-T7, PGA-Won.
Ryder Cup moment: Served as unofficial assistant to Nick Faldo at Valhalla two years ago.
Backspin: He has as many victories as anyone in the world this year, including his clutch victory at the PGA Championship where he holed a 15-foot putt that got him into the playoff, and a 15-foot birdie in the playoff to erase a one-shot deficit. Already has seven victories in just his fourth year on the European Tour.
GRAEME McDOWELL
Age: 31.
Country: Northern Ireland.
World ranking: 13.
Ryder Cup teams: 1
Ryder Cup record: 2-1-1.
Career victories: 6.
Majors: U.S. Open (1).
2010 victories: Wales Open, U.S. Open.
2010 majors: Masters-Cut, US Open-Won, British Open-T23, PGA-Cut.
Ryder Cup moment: Beating Stewart Cink in singles in his Ryder Cup debut at Valhalla.
Backspin: He won the U.S. Open in steady fashion, making only one birdie but no big mistakes at Pebble Beach. McDowell has been relatively quiet since then, failing to crack the top 20 in his last five tournaments. Proved to be up to the task in his Ryder Cup debut two years ago when he teamed well with Ian Poulter and went 2-1-1 for the week.
IAN POULTER
Age: 34.
Country: England.
World ranking: 14.
Ryder Cup teams: 2.
Ryder Cup record: 6-1-0.
Career victories: 9.
Majors: None.
2010 victories: WGC-Match Play Championship.
2010 majors: Masters-T10, US Open-T47, British Open-T60, PGA-WD.
Ryder Cup moment: Backed up being a captain's pick in 2008 by going 4-1.
Backspin: If his Ryder Cup record wasn't enough, showed his match-play prowess by winning his first World Golf Championship title at Dove Mountain in Arizona by pounding Paul Casey in the final match. Few other players have such self-belief, or such a determination to get the ball in the hole at any cost. Was only ruffled when he heard NBC analyst Johnny Miller poke fun at his ball-striking.
ROSS FISHER
Age: 29.
Country: England.
World ranking: 27.
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie.
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0.
Career victories: 4.
Majors: None.
2010 victories: Irish Open.
2010 majors: Masters-Cut, US Open-Cut, British Open-T37, PGA-Cut.
Ryder Cup moment: A strong performance in Germany, Scotland and Ireland to make the team on points.
Backspin: One of the top performers in the majors last year, this season was a disappointment as he missed the cut in three majors. He rallied to make the team with a runner-up finish in Germany, a tie for eighth at Loch Lomond and winning the Irish Open. He won the World Match Play Championship in Spain last fall by beating Anthony Kim in the final match.
FRANCESCO MOLINARI
Age: 27.
Country: Italy.
World ranking: 33.
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie.
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0.
Career victories: 1.
Majors: None.
2010 victories: None.
2010 majors: Masters-T30, US Open-Cut, British Open-Cut, PGA-T33.
Ryder Cup moment: Winning the World Cup last year with his brother, Edoardo.
Backspin: One of only two European players without a victory this year. He is the younger of the Molinari brothers by two years, but the first to win on the European Tour at the 2006 Italian Open. He has had nine top-10s this year, including a runner-up finish in France. Tied for third at Gleneagles the day his brother won.
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ
Age: 46.
Country: Spain.
World ranking: 26.
Ryder Cup teams: 3.
Ryder Cup record: 2-7-3.
Career victories: 18.
Majors: None.
2010 victories: Dubai Desert Classic, French Open, European Masters.
2010 majors: Masters-T12, US Open-Cut, British Open-T27, PGA-Cut.
Ryder Cup moment: Has lost all three of his singles matches, to Steve Pate, Chris DiMarco and Jim Furyk.
Backspin: Having a career renaissance with three victories after going winless in 2009. Known as the ''Mechanic,'' and his rounded swing is not a thing of beauty. But he has won 11 times since turning 40 and his free spirit and love for cigars and red wine make him a favorite among the European players.
PETER HANSON
Age: 32.
Country: Sweden.
World ranking: 42.
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie.
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0.
Career victories: 4.
Majors: None.
2010 victories: Mallorca Open, Czech Open.
2010 majors: Masters-DNP, US Open-T16, British Open-T37, PGA-T58.
Ryder Cup moment: The seventh time in the last eight Ryder Cups that a Swede has been on the European team.
Backspin: He gives Europe some pop off the tee, but otherwise goes about his business quietly. He likely knocked Paul Casey off the team when he qualified by winning the Czech Open. Has lost in the opening round twice in three years at the Match Play Championship in Arizona. Teamed with Robert Karlsson to tie for sixth in the 2007 World Cup.
LUKE DONALD
Age: 32.
Country: England.
World ranking: 9.
Ryder Cup teams: 2.
Ryder Cup record: 5-1-1.
Career victories: 5.
Majors: None.
2010 victories: Madrid Masters.
2010 majors: Masters-Cut, US Open-T47, British Open-T11, PGA-T46.
Ryder Cup moment: The only player on the European team who has played a Ryder Cup without ever losing.
Backspin: A captain's pick that was surprising to some, but not to Colin Montgomerie, who cited the fact that Donald has lost only one time in seven matches in his two Ryder Cups. Donald does nothing flashy except keep his ball in play and keep himself in the game. Has cracked the top 10 in the world largely through consistency. He will be expected to be just that at Celtic Manor.
PADRAIG HARRINGTON
Age: 39.
Country: Ireland.
World ranking: 22.
Ryder Cup teams: 5.
Ryder Cup record: 7-11-3.
Career victories: 17.
Majors: British Open (2), PGA Championship (1).
2010 victories: None.
2010 majors: Masters-Cut, US Open-T22, British Open-Cut, PGA-Cut.
Ryder Cup moment: Teaming with Montgomerie to beat Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the opening game at the 2004 Ryder Cup, setting the tone for the week. He went 4-1 at Oakland Hills.
Backspin: Europe's only active three-time major champion and the captain's pick under the most scrutiny at Celtic Manor. Hasn't won a sanctioned tournament since the 2008 PGA Championship, and he has not won a Ryder Cup match since beating Jay Haas in singles in 2004. He has been spending a lot of time on the range trying to work his swing into a groove. He will face great pressure at Wales, but is the kind of player who relishes it.
EDOARDO MOLINARI
Age: 29.
Country: Italy.
World ranking: 16.
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie.
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0.
Career victories: 5.
Majors: None.
2010 victories: Scottish Open, Johnnie Walker Championship.
2010 majors: Masters-Cut, US Open-T47, British Open-T27, PGA-T33.
Ryder Cup moment: Closing with three birdies to win at Gleneagles, and becoming a captain's pick an hour later.
Backspin: Joins brother Francesco as the first brothers to compete in the same Ryder Cup since Bernard and Geoffrey Hunt in 1963. Showed how dynamic he can be with his stunning finish at the Johnnie Walker Championship, and how steady he can be by holding on to win at Loch Lomond. Teamed with Francesco to deliver a World Cup title to Italy last year. A former U.S. Amateur champion.