Golf: Ryder Cup - European Ryder Cup team
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Your support makes all the difference.Colin Montgomerie
Age: 34. World No 6 4th Ryder Cup
Record W6 L5 H2
Bring on Tiger. Confident Monty wants revenge for his Augusta mauling by Woods on a course perfectly suited to his game. Past winner of the Volvo Masters. Back to his best at the weekend at the Forest of Arden.
Darren Clarke
Age: 29. World No 31 Ryder Cup debut
Open runner-up and also second in the Volvo PGA. Good match play as amateur, has won twice in seven years on tour. Strong and long, more likely to appear in fourballs than foursomes. Only representative from the Emerald Isle.
Bernhard Langer
Age: 40. World No 19 9th Ryder Cup
Record W15 L14 H5
Valderrama course record-holder with a 62 in 1994. Conquered the yips for the fourth time by turning to the broomhandled putter. Has been partnered by a record 12 different players. Should play five times.
Ian Woosnam
Age: 39. World No 24 8th Ryder Cup
Record W13 L11 H5
Can be downcast with his game, particularly putting, when not inspired. Two World Match Play victories contrast with failure to win a Ryder Cup singles. Halved with Couples in last two matches.
Per-Ulrik Johansson
Age: 30. World No 39 2nd Ryder Cup
Record W1 L2
Second time around, hoping to be nervous but not "out of control like last time". Former college team-mate of Phil Mickelson, to whom the Swede lost in the dead singles match at Oak Hill.
Lee Westwood
Age: 24. World No 30 Ryder Cup debut
Debut butterflies got to him as he missed the cut in the British Masters, but has settled down since being at Valderrama. Second in the Volvo Masters here last year. The youngest of the rookies, and possibly the longest and strongest.
Ignacio Garrido
Age: 25. World No 74 Ryder Cup debut
Son of Antonio, the first continental to hit a shot in the Ryder Cup in 1979. Came from nowhere to qualify with win in the German Open and back-to-back second places. Long off the tee, great short game, mentally strong.
Thomas Bjorn
Age: 26. World No 66 Ryder Cup debut
Denmark's best-ever player and first Ryder Cup man. An impressive victory at Loch Lomond last year helped him qualify despite suffering first neck and then ankle injuries this year. Strong all-round game, but tends to miss birdie putts.
Costantino Rocca
Age: 40. World No 42 3rd Ryder Cup
Record W3 L4
Loveable Italian who returned from his disaster at The Belfry in '93 when he should have won to be a rock at Oak Hill. Yet to play anyone but Love in the singles, but would like another crack after losing twice.
Jose Maria Olazabal
Age: 31. World No 57 5th Ryder Cup
Record W12 L6 H2
Form improving every day in practice. Could be the key man of the European team. Miraculously returned to top-class golf after missing 18 months due to mis-diagnosis of foot injuries. Making up for lost time.
Nick Faldo
Age: 40. World No 15 11th Ryder Cup
Record W21 L16 H4
Now the event's most experienced player, and needs one win to equal Arnold Palmer's record of 22. The man Ballesteros would pick to play for his life. Happy now to be the father-figure for the rookies.
Jesper Parnevik
Age: 32. World No 18 Ryder Cup debut
Has a few nutty ideas on life and the universe, but has won over $1m on the US tour this year with five second places. Putting and long-iron play improved substantially. Could form inspired Swedish partnership with Johansson.
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