CHASKA, Minn. — A look at the European team in the 41st Ryder Cup. Players are listed in the order they made the team.
RORY MCILROY
Age: 27.
Country: Northern Ireland.
Ryder Cup record (3 teams): 6-4-4.
World ranking: 3.
Career victories: 21.
Majors: U.S. Open (2011), British Open (2014), PGA Championship (2012, 2014).
2016 victories: Irish Open, Deutsche Bank Championship, Tour Championship.
Ryder Cup partners: Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia.
Outlook: McIlroy comes into the Ryder Cup as the FedEx Cup champion on the strength of winning the Deutsche Bank Championship and Tour Championship. The putter has come under serious scrutiny this year, when the four-time major champion failed to contend in any major and missed the cut in two of them. He is unbeaten in three singles matches at the Ryder Cup. Europe needs him to put up points. And remember that Minnesota is in the Central time zone. (The last time the Ryder Cup was held on U.S. soil, McIlroy nearly missed his tee time on the final day at Medinah.)
DANNY WILLETT
Age: 28.
Country: England.
Ryder Cup record (rookie): 0-0-0.
World ranking: 10.
Career victories: 5.
Majors: Masters (2016).
2016 victories: Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Masters.
Ryder Cup partners: None.
Outlook: One of six rookies, Willett is the only one of them with a major. He comes into the Ryder Cup off a runner-up finish in the Italian Open. However, that was only his second top 10 since he won the Masters.
HENRIK STENSON
Age: 40.
Country: Sweden.
Ryder Cup record (2 teams): 5-4-2.
World ranking: 5.
Career victories: 18.
Majors: British Open (2016).
2016 victories: BMW International Open, British Open.
Ryder Cup partners: Justin Rose, Paul Casey, Oliver Wilson, Robert Karlsson.
Outlook: Stenson might be Europe's most reliable player, though he is coping with a slight tear of the meniscus in his right knee. He withdrew after one round at The Barclays and sat out the BMW Championship to rest. He turned in the year's best performance at Royal Troon, where his 264 set a major championship record. He also was the silver medalist at the Olympics.
CHRIS WOOD
Age: 28.
Country: England.
Ryder Cup record (rookie): 0-0-0.
World ranking: 32.
Career victories: 4.
Majors: None.
2016 victories: BMW PGA Championship.
Ryder Cup partners: None.
Outlook: The lanky Englishman made the team largely on the strength of his victory in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. He has been slowed by a neck injury this year, which might have contributed to the lack of any top 10s since his victory.
SERGIO GARCIA
Age: 36.
Country: Spain.
Ryder Cup record (7 teams): 18-9-5.
World ranking: 12.
Career victories: 24.
Majors: None.
2016 victories: AT&T Byron Nelson.
Ryder Cup partners: Jesper Parnevik, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Jose Maria Olazabal, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Paul Casey, Nicolas Colsaerts, Rory McIlroy.
Outlook: Garcia won in Dallas this year and followed that with three finishes in the top five, including the U.S. Open at Oakmont. He figures to be the threat he always has been in the Ryder Cup, particularly with his driving and iron play.
RAFA CABRERA BELLO
Age: 32.
Country: Spain.
Ryder Cup record (rookie): 0-0-0.
World ranking: 30.
Career victories: 4.
Majors: None.
2016 victories: None.
Ryder Cup partners: None.
Outlook: The Spaniard's last victory was more than four years ago, but he has been steady all year. His only missed cut in 21 events worldwide was at The Players Championship, and he tied for fifth in successive weeks at the Olympics and the Wyndham Championship.
JUSTIN ROSE
Age: 36.
Country: England.
Ryder Cup record (3 teams): 9-3-2.
World ranking: 11.
Career victories: 16.
Majors: U.S. Open (2013).
2016 victories: Olympics.
Ryder Cup partners: Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson.
Outlook: Rose is unbeaten in his last six Ryder Cup matches, dating to that 45-foot putt he made on the 17th at Medinah on his way to beating Phil Mickelson. He only has one victory this year, but it was memorable — an Olympic gold medal after going head-to-head with Stenson. Putting is the only unreliable part of his game.
ANDY SULLIVAN
Age: 30.
Country: England.
Ryder Cup record (rookie): 0-0-0.
World ranking: 50.
Career victories: 3.
Majors: None.
2016 victories: None.
Ryder Cup partners: None.
Outlook: Sullivan had three victories last year, none this year. His best stretch, which secured his spot in the Ryder Cup, was in the summer when he tied for fifth in the French Open, tied for sixth in the Scottish Open and tied for 12th in the British Open.
MATT FITZPATRICK
Age: 22.
Country: England.
Ryder Cup record (rookie): 0-0-0.
World ranking: 44.
Career victories: 2.
Majors: None.
2016 victories: Nordea Masters.
Ryder Cup partners: None.
Outlook: The youngest player for Europe, the Englishman has five top 10s and 11 missed cuts. He locked up his spot on the team by finishing fifth in the Czech Masters. His match play history includes his victory in the U.S. Amateur in 2013. As an amateur, he won the British Boys Amateur and was low amateur at the 2013 British Open.
LEE WESTWOOD
Age: 43.
Country: England.
Ryder Cup record (9 teams): 20-15-6.
World ranking: 46.
Career victories: 39.
Majors: None.
2016 victories: None.
Ryder Cup partners: Nick Faldo, Darren Clarke, Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, Soren Hansen, Luke Donald, Martin Kaymer, Francesco Molinari, Nicolas Colsaerts, Jamie Donaldson.
Outlook: Westwood is playing on his 10th consecutive team. He has 23 points, fifth all-time in the Ryder Cup and with a chance to break Nick Faldo's record of 25 points. This is his third time, and second in a row, that he has needed a captain's pick. He had the same chance as Willett to win the Masters and tied for second.
MARTIN KAYMER
Age: 31.
Country: Germany.
Ryder Cup record (3 teams): 4-3-3.
World ranking: 48.
Career victories: 15.
Majors: U.S. Open (2014), PGA Championship (2010).
2016 victories: None.
Ryder Cup partners: Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Thomas Bjorn.
Outlook: Kaymer has something special happen in even-numbered years, so he's still waiting. He won the PGA Championship in 2010, holed the clinching putt at the 2012 Ryder Cup in 2012 and won the U.S. Open in 2014. He hasn't won since that eight-shot victory at Pinehurst No. 2 for his second major.
THOMAS PIETERS
Age: 24.
Country: Belgium.
Ryder Cup record (rookie): 0-0-0.
World ranking: 42.
Career victories: 3.
Majors: None.
2016 victories: Made in Denmark.
Ryder Cup partners: None.
Outlook: Pieters' victory in Denmark was enough to persuade Darren Clarke to use his last captain's pick on him. Pieters won the NCAA title at Riviera when he played at Illinois. Much like countryman Nicolas Colsaerts, he is blessed with enormous power.
This article was written by Doug Ferguson from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.
