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Meet the players: America’s Ryder Cup 2012 team

America have only won one of the last five Ryder Cups. These 12 Americans will be hoping to right that wrong in Medinah this weekend.

28/09/12 471 Views No Comments

Meet the players: America’s Ryder Cup 2012 team
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  • Davis Love III (captain)

    Age: 48 Appearances: 6 (1993, 95, 97, 99, 2002, 04) Record: Played 26 Won 9 Halved 5 Lost 12 Majors: 1 (1997 USPGA). Given the job after winning six caps and serving as one of Corey Pavin's assistants two years ago. Faced Jose Maria Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros in his first three cup games, winning one and losing the others. Also pipped by Olazabal in 1999 Masters.

  • Keegan Bradley

    Age: 26 Appearances: 2012 rookie Majors: 1 (2011 USPGA) World ranking: 13 His aunt Pat Bradley won six major titles. Last year joined Ben Curtis as the only player since 1913 to win on their first appearance in a major, beating Jason Dufner in a USPGA play-off from five behind with three holes to play. Not picked for Presidents Cup, but Ryder Cup debut comes after WGC-Bridgestone Invitational victory.

  • Jason Dufner

    Age: 35 Appearances: 2012 rookie Majors: 0 World ranking: 7 Four clear with four to play in last year's USPGA, Dufner bogeyed the next three and lost a play-off to Keegan Bradley. Has been one of the stars of this season, however, with two wins and a second in the space of five weeks, then a fourth place finish at the US Open. Did not take up golf until he was 15.

  • Jim Furyk

    Age: 42 Appearances: 7 (1997, 99, 2002, 04, 06, 08, 10) Record: P27 W8 H4 L15 Majors: 1 (2003 US Open) World ranking: 27 Until Rory McIlroy lowered it by four last year, Furyk jointly held the record for the lowest total in US Open history. In addition to seven Ryder Cups has played seven Presidents Cups, winning all his five games in Melbourne last year. Wild card pick for first time.

  • Dustin Johnson

    Age: 28 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P4 W1 L3 Majors: 0 World ranking: 12 Led the 2010 US Open by three with a round to go, but shot 82 and instead saw Graeme McDowell win. Two months later at the USPGA Championship was denied a play-off by a two-stroke penalty on the final hole for grounding his club on what was deemed a bunker. Joint runner-up in last year's British Open. Wild card pick.

  • Zach Johnson

    Age: 36 Appearances: 2 (2006, 10) Record: P7 W3 H1 L3 Majors: 1 (2007 Masters) World ranking: 16 Earns third cap, but first at home, following victories at the Colonial tournament and John Deere Classic and a top 10 finish at The Open. Was ranked 56th in the world when he won the 2007 Masters.

  • Matt Kuchar

    Age: 34 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P4 W1 H2 L1 Majors: 0 World ranking: 14 Former US Amateur champion topped the PGA Tour money list in 2010, made his Ryder Cup debut and then last year played in both the Presidents Cup and World Cup, where he and Gary Woodland combined to give the United States their first victory since 2000. Won Players Championship in May.

  • Phil Mickelson

    Age: 42 Appearances: 8 (1995, 97, 99, 2002, 04, 06, 08, 10) Record: P34 W11 H6 L17 Majors: 4 (2004, 06, 10 Masters; 2005 USPGA) World ranking: 15 Ninth appearance takes him ahead of Billy Casper, Ray Floyd and Lanny Wadkins as America's most capped player, but reached an unwanted record at Celtic Manor - most defeats against Europe. Three-time Masters champion also won the USPGA in 2005 and now has 33 top 10 finishes in majors.

  • Webb Simpson

    Age: 27 Appearances: 2012 rookie Majors: 1 (2012 US Open) World ranking: 6 Came from four back in the final round to win the US Open - only the fifth major of his life. Team-mate of Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler at the 2008 Walker Cup, where the opposition included Rory McIlroy, but lost both his singles that week. Second to Luke Donald on last season's PGA Tour money list.

  • Brandt Snedeker

    Age: 31 Appearances: 2012 rookie Majors: 0 World ranking: 19 Played as an amateur in the 2004 US Masters after winning the Public Links Championship. Turned professional the same season and became the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year in 2007. Third in the 2008 Masters and this year's Open, where his 66-64 start equalled the major record. Great putter. Wild card pick.

  • Steve Stricker

    Age: 45 Appearances: 2 (2008, 10) Record: P7 W3 H1 L3 Majors: 0 World ranking: 11 Made stunning comeback from losing his PGA Tour card in 2004. Reached world number two, earned his first Ryder Cup cap at the age of 41 and after being unbeaten with Tiger Woods at the 2009 Presidents Cup they were together again and America's top scorers with three points out of four at Celtic Manor. Wild card pick.

  • Bubba Watson

    Age: 34 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P4 W1 L3 Majors: 1 (2012 Masters) World ranking: 8 Lost a play-off to Martin Kaymer at the 2010 USPGA Championship before capturing his first major at this April's Masters, his recovery from the trees in sudden death arguably the shot of the year. Won three times with Webb Simpson in last November's Presidents Cup.

  • Tiger Woods

    Age: 36 Appearances: 6 (1997, 99, 2002, 04, 06, 10) Record: P29 W13 H2 L14 Majors: 14 (1997, 2001, 02, 05 Masters; 2000, 02, 08 US Open; 2000, 05, 06 Open; 1999, 2000, 06, 07 USPGA) World ranking: 2 Has been on the winning side only once, missing the 2008 victory through injury. With 14 majors is second on the all-time list to Jack Nicklaus, but has not added to his total since the US Open four years ago. Only player in history to hold all four majors at the same time. Has had 12 different partners in the Ryder Cup.
  • Age: 48 Appearances: 6 (1993, 95, 97, 99, 2002, 04) Record: Played 26 Won 9 Halved 5 Lost 12 Majors: 1 (1997 USPGA). Given the job after winning six caps and serving as one of Corey Pavin's assistants two years ago. Faced Jose Maria Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros in his first three cup games, winning one and losing the others. Also pipped by Olazabal in 1999 Masters.
  • Age: 26 Appearances: 2012 rookie Majors: 1 (2011 USPGA) World ranking: 13 His aunt Pat Bradley won six major titles. Last year joined Ben Curtis as the only player since 1913 to win on their first appearance in a major, beating Jason Dufner in a USPGA play-off from five behind with three holes to play. Not picked for Presidents Cup, but Ryder Cup debut comes after WGC-Bridgestone Invitational victory.
  • Age: 35 Appearances: 2012 rookie Majors: 0 World ranking: 7 Four clear with four to play in last year's USPGA, Dufner bogeyed the next three and lost a play-off to Keegan Bradley. Has been one of the stars of this season, however, with two wins and a second in the space of five weeks, then a fourth place finish at the US Open. Did not take up golf until he was 15.
  • Age: 42 Appearances: 7 (1997, 99, 2002, 04, 06, 08, 10) Record: P27 W8 H4 L15 Majors: 1 (2003 US Open) World ranking: 27 Until Rory McIlroy lowered it by four last year, Furyk jointly held the record for the lowest total in US Open history. In addition to seven Ryder Cups has played seven Presidents Cups, winning all his five games in Melbourne last year. Wild card pick for first time.
  • Age: 28 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P4 W1 L3 Majors: 0 World ranking: 12 Led the 2010 US Open by three with a round to go, but shot 82 and instead saw Graeme McDowell win. Two months later at the USPGA Championship was denied a play-off by a two-stroke penalty on the final hole for grounding his club on what was deemed a bunker. Joint runner-up in last year's British Open. Wild card pick.
  • Age: 36 Appearances: 2 (2006, 10) Record: P7 W3 H1 L3 Majors: 1 (2007 Masters) World ranking: 16 Earns third cap, but first at home, following victories at the Colonial tournament and John Deere Classic and a top 10 finish at The Open. Was ranked 56th in the world when he won the 2007 Masters.
  • Age: 34 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P4 W1 H2 L1 Majors: 0 World ranking: 14 Former US Amateur champion topped the PGA Tour money list in 2010, made his Ryder Cup debut and then last year played in both the Presidents Cup and World Cup, where he and Gary Woodland combined to give the United States their first victory since 2000. Won Players Championship in May.
  • Age: 42 Appearances: 8 (1995, 97, 99, 2002, 04, 06, 08, 10) Record: P34 W11 H6 L17 Majors: 4 (2004, 06, 10 Masters; 2005 USPGA) World ranking: 15 Ninth appearance takes him ahead of Billy Casper, Ray Floyd and Lanny Wadkins as America's most capped player, but reached an unwanted record at Celtic Manor - most defeats against Europe. Three-time Masters champion also won the USPGA in 2005 and now has 33 top 10 finishes in majors.
  • Age: 27 Appearances: 2012 rookie Majors: 1 (2012 US Open) World ranking: 6 Came from four back in the final round to win the US Open - only the fifth major of his life. Team-mate of Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler at the 2008 Walker Cup, where the opposition included Rory McIlroy, but lost both his singles that week. Second to Luke Donald on last season's PGA Tour money list.
  • Age: 31 Appearances: 2012 rookie Majors: 0 World ranking: 19 Played as an amateur in the 2004 US Masters after winning the Public Links Championship. Turned professional the same season and became the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year in 2007. Third in the 2008 Masters and this year's Open, where his 66-64 start equalled the major record. Great putter. Wild card pick.
  • Age: 45 Appearances: 2 (2008, 10) Record: P7 W3 H1 L3 Majors: 0 World ranking: 11 Made stunning comeback from losing his PGA Tour card in 2004. Reached world number two, earned his first Ryder Cup cap at the age of 41 and after being unbeaten with Tiger Woods at the 2009 Presidents Cup they were together again and America's top scorers with three points out of four at Celtic Manor. Wild card pick.
  • Age: 34 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P4 W1 L3 Majors: 1 (2012 Masters) World ranking: 8 Lost a play-off to Martin Kaymer at the 2010 USPGA Championship before capturing his first major at this April's Masters, his recovery from the trees in sudden death arguably the shot of the year. Won three times with Webb Simpson in last November's Presidents Cup.
  • Age: 36 Appearances: 6 (1997, 99, 2002, 04, 06, 10) Record: P29 W13 H2 L14 Majors: 14 (1997, 2001, 02, 05 Masters; 2000, 02, 08 US Open; 2000, 05, 06 Open; 1999, 2000, 06, 07 USPGA) World ranking: 2 Has been on the winning side only once, missing the 2008 victory through injury. With 14 majors is second on the all-time list to Jack Nicklaus, but has not added to his total since the US Open four years ago. Only player in history to hold all four majors at the same time. Has had 12 different partners in the Ryder Cup.

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