LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A capsule look at the European team for the Ryder Cup, listed in order of how they made the team. The Ryder Cup starts Friday at Valhalla Golf Club.
PADRAIG HARRINGTON
Age: 37
Country: Ireland
World ranking: 4
Majors: British Open (2007, 2008), PGA Championship (2008)
Career victories: 17
2008 victories: British Open, PGA Championship
Ryder Cup teams: 4
Ryder Cup record: 7-8-2
Ryder Cup moment: Walking all the way to the 17th green at Brookline to check the hole location, and eventually winning his match against Mark O'Meara in his Ryder Cup debut.
Backspin: Has slowed considerably after the PGA Championship, but trying to peak only for the Ryder Cup. Becomes only the fourth double major winner in the same year of playing in a Ryder Cup. It has been hard to find him a regular partner.
SERGIO GARCIA
Age: 28
Country: Spain
World ranking: 5
Majors: None
Career victories: 16
2008 victories: The Players Championship
Ryder Cup teams: 4
Ryder Cup record: 14-4-2
Backspin: Has a 75 percent rate of earning points, the highest of any European on this team. That includes an astounding 8-0 record in foursomes. He is the European that most gets under the Americans' skin with his enthusiasm. A shaky putter except for one week every two years.
LEE WESTWOOD
Age: 35
Country: England
World ranking: 12
Majors: None
Career victories: 28
2008 victories: None
Ryder Cup teams: 5
Ryder Cup record: 14-8-3
Ryder Cup moment: Holed a 4-foot par putt at Oakland Hills to assure Europe retaining the cup. It was his first singles victory.
Backspin: Tied with Sergio Garcia as highest points-earner on this team with 15.5 points. Partners well with Garcia, but other partner, Darren Clarke, was left off the team. Might be Europe's most dependable performer this year, but will need to put the absence of Clarke, his good friend, behind him.
HENRIK STENSON
Age: 32
Country: Sweden
World ranking: 7
Majors: None
Career victories: 6
2008 victories: None
Ryder Cup teams: 1
Ryder Cup record: 1-1-1
Ryder Cup moment: Holing the winning putt at The K Club.
Backspin: Made a solid debut in 2006, and his lone American victory was the Accenture Match Play Championship. He is starting to play well in big events, tying for third in the British Open and tying for fourth in the PGA Championship.
ROBERT KARLSSON
Age: 38
Country: Sweden
World ranking: 17
Majors: None
Career victories: 8
2008 victories: Mercedes-Benz Championship in Germany.
Ryder Cup teams: 1
Ryder Cup record: 0-1-2
Ryder Cup moment: Losing to Tiger Woods in singles at his first Ryder Cup.
Backspin: Played his way onto the team with four straight top-3s in the spring, and he was the only player to finish in the top 10 at the first three majors until he tied for 20th in the PGA Championship. Played with Paul Casey last time and earned two halves.
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ
Age: 44
Country: Spain
World ranking: 19
Majors: None
Career victories: 15
2008 victories: BMW PGA Championship
Ryder Cup teams: 2
Ryder Cup record: 2-5-2
Ryder Cup moment: Losing to Chris DiMarco twice in the '04 Ryder Cup.
Backspin: Has had four partners in his two Ryder Cups – Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal, Darren Clarke and Thomas Levet, so chances are he'll get someone new. He has sat out only one session in two Ryder Cups. Known as the “Mechanic,” but easy to overlook.
GRAEME MCDOWELL
Age: 29
Country: Northern Ireland
World ranking: 32
Majors: None
Career victories: 4
2008 victories: Barclays Scottish Open, Ballantines Championship
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0
Ryder Cup moment: Helped lead Great Britain & Ireland to victory in the 2001 Walker Cup.
Backspin: Played his college golf in the South – University of Alabama-Birmingham – and is emerging as a young force in Europe. He has won twice this year to earn his spot on a maiden team through the European points list.
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JUSTIN ROSE
Age: 28
Country: England
World ranking: 13
Majors: None.
Career victories: 6
2008 victories: None
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0
Ryder Cup moment: Played in the Walker Cup at age 17 and has represented England three times in the World Cup.
Backspin: Building a reputation for folding until he won Order of Merit last year with playoff victory in the Volvo Masters. He has played only five times on European Tour this year. Skipped the FedEx Cup to make sure he made his first Ryder Cup team.
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SOREN HANSEN
Age: 34
Country: Denmark
World ranking: 42
Majors: None
Career victories: 2
2008 victories: None
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0
Ryder Cup moment: Has represented Denmark six times in the World Cup.
Backspin: He missed the cut in two majors this year, but has proven to be one of the most steady players in Europe. Made the team on the strength of seven top-10s on the European Tour.
OLIVER WILSON
Age: 28
Country: England
World ranking: 48
Majors: None
Career victories: None
2008 victories: None
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0
Ryder Cup moment: Was unbeaten in the 2003 Walker Cup, beating Bill Haas in singles.
Backspin: The only player in this Ryder Cup to have never won a tournament as a pro. He has come close this year, with three runner-up finishes. Could turn into an unknown hero along the lines of a Philip Walton or Paul McGinley.
PAUL CASEY
Age: 31
Country: England
World ranking: 38
Majors: None
Career victories: 8
2008 victories: None
Ryder Cup teams: 2
Ryder Cup record: 3-1-2
Ryder Cup moment: Making a hole-in-one to win a foursomes match with David Howell on the 14th hole of The K Club.
Backspin: Unbeaten in the last Ryder Cup, a big reason Nick Faldo took him as a captain's pick. Has yet to win in America, but brings the experience of victory in the HSBC World Match Play Championship. Was second in the European Tour Order of Merit in 2006.
IAN POULTER
Age: 32
Country: England
World ranking: 29
Majors: None
Career victories: 8
2008 victories: None
Ryder Cup teams: 1
Ryder Cup record: 1-1-0
Ryder Cup moment: Being picked by Nick Faldo after not trying to make the European team on his own.
Backspin: Only two top-10s this year, one of those runner-up at the British Open. Played only two matches in 2004, beating Chris Riley in singles. He has reputation as a gutsy player, but certainly not the record.
