Meet Europe's 2016 Ryder Cup team

Get to know the 12 men hoping to make it four European Ryder Cup wins in a row at Hazeltine in September.

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RORY McILROY (Northern Ireland); Age: 27; Caps: 3 (2010, 2012, 2014); Record: Won 6 Lost 4 Halved 4; Major titles: 4 (2011 US Open, 2012 US PGA, 2014 Open, 2014 US PGA). Famously described the Ryder Cup as ”an exhibition” the year before making his debut in 2010, but has changed his opinion since the narrow victories at Celtic Manor and Medinah, where he beat Keegan Bradley in the singles despite only arriving at the course with minutes to spare. Won three points from five matches at Gleneagles in 2014, most importantly a crushing singles victory over Rickie Fowler.

DANNY WILLETT (England); Age: 28; Caps: 0; Major titles: 1 (2016 Masters). One of five rookies to qualify automatically, albeit as a major champion following his superb victory in the Masters in April. Famously beat McIlroy in the first round of the Amateur Championship in 2007 and was on the same Walker Cup team later that year, where he halved two and lost two of his four matches in the narrow defeat at Royal County Down.

HENRIK STENSON (Sweden); Age: 40; Caps: 3 (2006, 2008, 2014); Record: W5 L4 H2; Major titles: 1 (2016 British Open). Played a vital part in the victory at Gleneagles, combining with Justin Rose to win all three of their matches together. Claimed his first major title with a record-breaking performance in the Open at Royal Troon in July and took silver behind Rose in golf’s return to the Olympics in Rio. Ongoing back injury could be a concern.

CHRIS WOOD (England); Age: 28; Caps: 0; Majors: 0. Came to prominence when finishing tied fifth in the 2008 Open while still an amateur and was third as a professional the following year, missing out on the play-off between Stewart Cink and Tom Watson by a single shot after a bogey on the 72nd hole. Secured his Ryder Cup place by winning the BMW PGA Championship in May but was forced to miss the Open with a neck injury.

SERGIO GARCIA (Spain); Age: 36; Caps: 7 (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014); Record: W18 L9 H5; Majors: 0. A talismanic figure for Europe, so much so that he was brought in as a vice-captain by Colin Montgomerie in 2010 despite becoming disenchanted with golf and taking a two-month break from playing. Won two and a half points from four matches at Gleneagles, crucially beating Jim Furyk in the singles as he had done at Medinah two years earlier.

RAFAEL CABRERA-BELLO (Spain); Age: 32; Caps: 0; Majors: 0. His only victory on the European Tour came back in 2012, but Cabrera-Bello secured his place in the side with a highly consistent season which included back-to-back runners-up finishes in Qatar and Dubai and five other top-five finishes in strokeplay competitions, including the Olympics. Was also third in the WGC-Dell Match Play after beating McIlroy in the consolation match in Texas.

JUSTIN ROSE (England); Age: 36; Caps: 3 (2008, 2012, 2014); Record: W9 L3 H2; Majors: 1 (2013 US Open). Played all five matches at Medinah in 2012 and did so again in 2014, finishing unbeaten and as Europe’s top scorer with three wins and two halved matches, including in the singles against Hunter Mahan. Claimed gold in the Olympics in Rio after a thrilling battle with Gleneagles partner Stenson.

ANDY SULLIVAN (England); Age: 30; Caps: 0; Majors: 0. A member of the victorious Walker Cup team in 2011, Sullivan won his first two European Tour titles before Ryder Cup qualifying started, but then added the Portugal Masters in October last year and pushed McIlroy all the way in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. Also finished second in Dubai but missed the cut in the final two qualifying events.

MATT FITZPATRICK (England); Age: 21 (celebrates 22nd birthday on Thursday); Caps: 0; Majors: 0. The former US Amateur champion spent the most time in the automatic qualifying positions after winning his maiden European Tour title in the British Masters last October and also finishing fourth in the DP World Tour Championship. Suffered a loss of form after winning the Nordea Masters in June but secured his berth with fifth place in the penultimate event.

LEE WESTWOOD (England); Age: 43; Caps: 9 (1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014); Record: Won 18 Lost 13 Halved 6 Major titles: 0. He’s been a superb team player often handed rookies to play alongside over the course of his nine appearances but also formed some brilliant partnerships, alongside Darren Clarke, Sergio Garcia and most recently in 2014 winning two Foursomes matches with first-timer Jamie Donaldson at Gleneagles.

Tue Aug 30 2016 - 15:06

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