NICK FALDO (Captain)
Profile:
51-year-old from Welwyn Garden City, England. He is one of Britain's greatest ever golfers winning 43 tournaments in total including 9 on the PGA Tour and 27 on the European Tour.
Career Highlight:
Winning both the Masters (1989,1990,1996) and the Open Championship (1987,1990,1992) on three occasions.
Ryder Cup Record:
W23 L19 H4
Little Known Fact:
One of Faldo's ex love interests, Brenna Cepelak, battered his Prosche 911 with a golf club when she found out he was cheating on her. She caused over £10,000 worth of damage.
Strength:
Huge Ryder Cup experience, stoic determination and tremendous record of success.
Weakness:
The pressure is definitely on to continue the European winning streak. He has many critics who'll no doubt be willing to criticise him if he fails.
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Birdie
PADRAIG HARRINGTON
Profile:
37-year-old from Dublin, Ireland; turned professional in 2000. Currently ranked No.3 in the world.
Career Highlight:
Winning the Open twice in succession in 2007 and 2008 and also winning the US PGA Championship in 2008
Ryder Cup Record:
W7 L8 H2
Little Known Fact:
Padraig first picked up a club when he was 4-years-old and was down to scratch just eleven years later.
Strength:
His recent form has shown him to be one of the best players in the world and he'll be feared by any American opponent.
Weakness:
His stroke play excellence is no guarantee of match play success and he'll have the pressure of leading the European team from the front.
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Eagle
SERGIO GARCIA
Profile:
28-year-old from Castellon, Spain; turned professional in 1999 aged 19.
Career Highlight:
Winning eight out of his last ten Ryder Cup matches thus helping Europe to victories in both 2004 and 2006.
Ryder Cup Record:
W14 L4 H2
Little Known Fact:
Sergio is best friends with ex-Manchester United striker Diego Forlan and used to date former World Tennis No.1 Martina Hingis.
Strength:
The Ryder Cup brings out the best in Garcia and with a 75% success rate in his matches thus far he'll be confident of more victories.
Weakness:
His hot-headedness has, on occasion, caused him trouble on the golf course.
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Eagle
SOREN HANSEN
Profile:
34-year-old from Copenhagen, Denmark; turned professional in 1997
Career Highlight:
Winning the Irish Open in 2002 and finishing 8th in the European Order of Merit in 2007.
Ryder Cup Record:
Rookie
Little Known Fact:
Hansen will be only the second player from Denmark to play in the Ryder cup when he steps onto the course on Friday.
Strength:
He's on a great run of form which sees him enter the tournament full of confidence.
Weakness:
As a rookie he'll have prove he can cope with the pressure that comes with Ryder Cup participation.
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Par
PAUL CASEY
Profile:
31-year-old from Cheltenham, England; turned professional in 2000
Career Highlight:
Winning £1m when he won the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth in 2006.
Ryder Cup Record:
W3 L1 H2 / Wildcard
Little Known Fact:
Casey is the only player in Ryder Cup history to have won a foursome match with a hole-in-one, a feat he achieved at the K-Club in 2006.
Strength:
A big-hitter with a classical swing, Casey has a steady record in the Ryder Cup which should stand him in good stead.
Weakness:
The home fans could target him for abuse after his previous suggestions that he 'hated' the American team.
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Par
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ
Profile:
44-year-old from Malaga, Spain; turned professional in 1982.
Career Highlight:
Winning the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth earlier this year.
Ryder Cup Record:
W2 L5 H2
Little Known Fact:
Jimenez has earned the nickname 'the mechanic' because of preference for repairing, rather than driving, high performance vehicles. He currently owns a gleaming, red Ferrari.
Strength:
His greatest victories have come as part of a team. Having won with both Spain and Europe he'll be great for team spirit.
Weakness:
Has missed high profile putts from less than 2 feet more than once this year, this could potentially detract from his usually solid game.
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Par
Robert Karlsson
Profile:
38-year-old from Katrineholm, Sweden; turned professional in 1989
Career Highlight:
In 2006 at the Welsh Open at Celtic Manor, Karlsson broke the European Tour's 36 hole and 54 hole scoring records by shooting 124 for the first two rounds and 189 for the first three.
Ryder Cup Record:
W0 L1 H2
Little Known Fact:
At 6ft 5” Karlsson goes by the nickname ‘Ivan Drago’ after Dolph Lundgren’s character in Rocky IV.
Strength:
Brilliantly consistent throughout 2008 he hits the course at Valhalla full of confidence
Weakness:
Unlikely to spring any surprises given his unspectacular style.
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Par
GRAEME MCDOWELL
Profile:
28-year-old from Portrush, Northern Ireland; turned professional in 2002
Career Highlight:
Winning the 2008 Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomand.
Ryder Cup Record:
Rookie
Little Known Fact:
His record as a college golfer at the University of Alabama at Birmingham tops even that of Tiger Woods and saw him ranked best in the country.
Strength:
He has plenty of experience of playing in front of American crowds.
Weakness:
As a rookie he’ll have to overcome the tension that comes playing in the Ryder Cup.
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Par
IAN POULTER
Profile:
32-year-old from Hitchin, England; turned professional in 1994.
Career Highlight:
Scoring the winning points for Europe in the 2004 Ryder Cup and finishing second, behind Padraig Harrington, at the Open earlier this year.
Ryder Cup Record:
W1 L1 / Wildcard
Little Known Fact:
Known for his flashy dress-sense, Ian Poulter set up his own design company and produces and wears his own range of golfing clothes.
Strength:
His self-confidence suggests that he’ll bring flair, excitement and positive thinking to the European team.
Weakness:
A possibility that his confidence could turn to arrogance
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Birdie
JUSTIN ROSE
Profile:
28-year-old born in Johannesburg, grew up in England and spends his time between Orlando and London; turned professional in 1998.
Career Highlight:
Securing 4th Place as a 17-year-old amateur at the 1998 Open with a birdie from the rough on the eighteenth hole.
Ryder Cup Record:
Rookie
Little Known Fact:
Rose’s wife is former British international gymnast Kate Phillips.
Strength:
His partnership with Ian Poulter is particularly strong after several outings together in the Seve Cup.
Weakness:
As a rookie he’ll have to overcome the tension that comes playing in the Ryder Cup.
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Parr
HENRIK STENSON
Profile:
32-year-old from Gothenburg, Sweden; turned professional in 1998
Career Highlight:
Winning the Accenture World Match Play event in Arizona in 2006 and tying third place at the Open this year.
Ryder Cup Record:
W1 L1 H1
Little Known Fact:
Despite spending most of his life on the golf-course Stenson actually has a terrible allergy to grass-pollen.
Strength:
With an ice-cool temperament the Swede is a formidable match play opponent.
Weakness:
His allergy to grass-pollen causes fatigue issues which could trouble his consistency at Valhalla.
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Par
LEE WESTWOOD
Profile:
35-year-old from Worksop, England; turned professional in 1993
Career Highlight:
Representing Europe in five successive Ryder Cups (winning four) and ranking first on the European Order of Merit in 2000.
Ryder Cup Record:
W14 L8 H3 / Wildcard
Little Known Fact:
He co-owns a private jet with Darren Clarke and is an avid Nottingham Forest supporter.
Strength:
Unbeaten in 10 Ryder Cup matches, he’ll be spurred on by the prospect of beating Arnold Palmer’s 12 match unbeaten streak.
Weakness:
He’s known to believe that his game possesses no weaknesses, let’s hope it’s true.
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Eagle
OLIVER WILSON
Profile:
27-year-old from Mansfield, England; turned professional in 2003.
Career Highlight:
Qualifying for this year’s Ryder Cup.
Ryder Cup Record:
Rookie / Wildcard
Little Known Fact:
Wilson will become the first European to play in the Ryder Cup having not won a single tournament in his professional career.
Strength:
That he has carded seven runner-up prizes in three years suggests he’s got the capabilities to compete at the highest level.
Weakness:
Seemingly lacks the cutting edge and killer instinct of the best players having failed to win a tournament in his fledgling career.
Sport.co.uk Danger Rating:
Par