Ryder Cup Player Profiles

• September 25, 2014

A profile of the US and European Ryder Cup teams set to do battle at Gleneagles this week.

Team Europe

Rory McIlroy

Age: 25
World ranking: 1
Ryder Cup caps: 2 (P9 W4 L3 H2)

On top of his game and on top of the world rankings, Northern Ireland’s McIlroy will undoubtedly pull the crowds in Scotland. His season successes include two major wins to add to the two he already had under his belt. The heir apparent to Tiger’s throne or just really good? The European team probably doesn’t mind either way.

Henrik Stenson

Age: 38
World ranking: 3
Ryder Cup caps: 2 (P7 W2 L3 H2)

His form in 2013 saw him become both FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai champion and this year Stenson finished fourth at the US Open and made third place his own at the US PGA Championship. His world ranking is a fair reflection of the standard of golf he is playing.

Victor Dubuisson

Age: 24
World ranking: 21
Ryder Cup caps: None

With two second place finishes this season and a 2013 Turkish Open win under the belt, the Frenchman will be out to prove that a top ten world ranking is well within his reach.

Jamie Donaldson

Age: 38
World ranking: 28
Ryder Cup caps: None

As the first Welshman to represent his country since Phillip Price did so in 2002 at Belfry, there should be no shortage of support for the 38-year-old. He will make his Ryder Cup debut having recently won the Czech Masters.

Sergio Garcia

Age: 34
World ranking: 4
Ryder Cup caps: 6 (P28 W16 L8 H4)

Garcia has been playing some of the best golf of his career this season, which has included victories at the Qatar Masters in July and second place at the Open Championship at Hoylake. The Spaniard doesn’t always thrive under pressure, however, and he can expect plenty of that at Gleneagles.

Justin Rose

Age: 34
World ranking: 5
Ryder Cup caps: 2 (P9 W6 L3 H0)

Ryder Cup golf suits Rose’s game and he will be one of the key players for the European team. The 2013 US Open champion secured wins at the PGA Tour’s Quickens Loans National in June and at the European Tour’s Scottish Open in July, so his form is still rock solid.

Martin Kaymer

Age: 29
World ranking: 12
Ryder Cup caps: 2 (P6 W3 L2 H1)

While he will always be remembered for sinking the winning putt at Medinah in 2012, the German has also produced some spectacular golf this year, winning both the Players Championship and US Open crowns to well and truly announce his presence as a major player.

Thomas Bjorn

Age: 43
World ranking: 26
Ryder Cup caps: 2 (P6 W3 L2 H1)

With 15 European Tour wins to his name, the great Dane returns to the Ryder Cup having acted as vice-captain of the team in 2010 and 2012. As one of the more seasoned campaigners, he should bring a sense of calm to some of the young guns.

Graham McDowell

Age: 35
World ranking: 16
Ryder Cup caps: 3 (P12 W5 L5 H2)

With no shortage of experience in this format of the game, McDowell dramatically qualified for the European side at the very last opportunity. He won the French Open in July and was a key player in Europe’s 2010 Ryder Cup victory.

Ian Poulter

Age: 38
World ranking: 36
Ryder Cup caps: 4 (P15 W12 L3 H0)

One of the wildcard picks, Poulter’s influence should once again prove vital. The Englishman thrives in the competitive team atmosphere of Ryder Cups, as he’s shown time and time again.

Lee Westwood

Age: 41
World ranking: 38
Ryder Cup caps: 8 (P37 W18 L13 H6)

Needing only four points to equal Sir Nick Faldo’s Ryder Cup points record of 25, Westwood will look to repeat the form which saw him win the Malaysian open in April. He is another player who boasts a wealth of experience.

Stephen Gallacher

Age: 39
World ranking: 33
Ryder Cup caps: None

Scottish fans at Gleneagles will undoubtedly be keen to follow their man’s every stroke. Earlier this year, he successfully defended his Dubai Desert Classic title and has shown some rock solid form in Europe over extended periods.

Paul McGinley (Captain)
Age: 47
Ryder Cup caps: Three (P9 W2 L2 H5)

The first Irishman to captain a Ryder Cup team, McGinley was a Ryder Cup winner in 2002, 2004 and 2006 – with one of his highlights being the 10-foot putt he sank on the final hole of his match against Jim Furyk in 2002 to hand Europe the title. McGinley’s left no stone unturned in his preparation this year, but will it prove to be enough?

Team USA

Bubba Watson

Age: 35
World ranking: 9
Ryder Cup caps: 2 (P8 W3 L5 H0)

Known to be an unpredictable player, Watson can also provide the magical touch when it is least expected. He’s always fun to watch and the 2012 and 2014 Masters champion will be eager to put on a good show in a year that saw him miss the cut at both the US Open and Open Championships.

Rickie Fowler

Age: 25
World ranking: 11
Ryder Cup caps: 1 (P3 W0 L1 H2)

Sporting a patriotic haircut, Fowler will look to continue in the superb vein of form he has enjoyed this year. He has top-five finishes to show in all four majors and finished runner-up at Royal Liverpool in July.

Jim Furyk

Age: 44
World ranking: 7
Ryder Cup caps: 8 (P30 W9 L17 H4)

With no shortage of experience, Furyk should provide the calm that is needed at golf’s global showpiece. He placed fourth at the Open at Royal Liverpool in July and was the US Open champion in 2003, with plenty of consistency inbetween.

Jimmy Walker

Age: 35
World ranking: 19
Ryder Cup caps: 0

Having won three PGA Tour events in the last 11 months, Walker is playing some of the best golf of his career and has top 10 finished in three of the 2014 majors to his name. He impressed at the US Open, Masters and US PGA.

Matt Kuchar

Age: 36
World ranking: 8
Ryder Cup caps: 2 (P7 W3 L2 H2)

A player who can never be discarded, Kuchar returned from injury with a fifth place finish at The Barclays and has won two PGA Tour events in 2014. A master of matchplay, he will be a key player in the US team at Gleneagles.

Phil Mickelson

Age: 44
World ranking: 10
Ryder Cup caps: 9 (P38 W14 L18 H6)

The go-to man in the US team, golf’s favourite lefty has been in good shape of late and will look to reproduce the level of play that saw him finish in second place at the US PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky in August. In the absence of Tiger Woods, a lot of responsibility will rest on his experienced shoulders.

Jordan Spieth

Age: 21
World ranking: 14
Ryder Cup caps: 0

Having already been compared to legends like Tiger Woods, this rising star of world golf will make his Ryder Cup debut in a season that saw him finish joint second at the Masters. Spieth won two matches and halved one at the 2011 Walker Cup.

Patrick Reed

Age: 24
World ranking: 27
Ryder Cup caps: 0

Another rising star in the US team, Reed won the Humana Challenge and the WGC-Cadillac Championship this year to complement his Wyndham Championship win in 2013.

Zach Johnson

Age: 38
World ranking: 15
Ryder Cup caps: 3 (P11 W6 L4 H1)

With 11 PGA Tour wins under the belt, Johnson knows what it takes to win when pressure is at a premium. His record in the Ryder Cup is equally impressive and there is no doubt the 2007 Masters Champion will play a leading role as one of the more seasoned campaigners in the US team.

Hunter Mahan

Age: 32
World ranking: 20
Ryder Cup caps: 2 (P8 W3 L2 H3)

Shrugging off the disappointment of the crucial loss he suffered to Graeme McDowell at Celtic manor in 2010 will be top of his list. Mahan recently won the first of the event of the FedEx Cup play-offs and will look to repeat that form at Gleneagles.

Keegan Bradley

Age: 28
World ranking: 23
Ryder Cup caps: 1 (P4 W3 L1 H0)

Although he hasn’t experienced the best season by his standards, Bradley formed a fearsome partnership with Phil Mickelson in the last Ryder Cup at Medinah. His best finish this year is a fourth place at the US Open.

Webb Simpson

Age: 29
World ranking: 32
Ryder Cup caps: 1 (P4 W2 L2 H0)

A four-time PGA Tour winner, Simpson won two matches playing with Bubba Watson at Medinah in 2012, but also lost two against Ian Poulter. The 2012 US Open champion definitely has a point to prove.

Tom Watson (Captain)
Age: 64
Ryder Cup caps: 4 (P15 W10 L4 H1)

As the last winning American captain on British soil who guided his team to victory at The Belfry in 1993, fans stateside will be hoping he can pull off a repeat performance. At 65, Watson becomes the oldest man yet to captain a Ryder Cup team.