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Meet the players: Europe’s Ryder Cup 2012 team

Jose Maria Olazabal leads 12 of Europe’s finest to defend the Ryder Cup in Medinah this week. Here’s the team.

27/09/12 4,486 Views 14 Comments

Meet the players: Europe’s Ryder Cup 2012 team
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  • Jose Maria Olazabal (captain)

    Age: 46 Appearances: 7 (1987, 89, 91, 93, 97, 99, 2006) Record: Played 31 Won 18 Halved 5 Lost 8 Majors: 2 (1994, 99 Masters) Will always be remembered as the Ryder Cup partner of Seve Ballesteros with whom he chalked up 11 wins, two halves and only two defeats. A two-time winner of the Masters, Olazabal's playing career has been badly hit by rheumatism. He was vice-captain to Nick Faldo four years ago and to Colin Montgomerie in 2012.

  • Nicolas Colsaerts

    Age: 29 Appearances: 2012 rookie World ranking: 35 Majors: 0 One of two wild cards picked by Jose Maria Olazabal, the big Belgian is the only rookie in the Europe team. Has come on in leaps and bounds in the last two years, winning the China Open last year and the World Match Play in May. Biggest hitter on EPGA Tour last year, which suits Medinah.

  • Luke Donald

    Age: 34 Appearances: 3 (2004, 06, 10) Record: P11 W8 H1 L2 World ranking: 3 Majors: 0 World No.1 for most of last year before Rory McIlroy took over, Donald has a good record in the Ryder Cup, winning three previous caps and losing only twice in 11 matchups. Perfect six out of six record in foursomes partnering Sergio Garcia four times and Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood once each.

  • Sergio Garcia

    Age: 32 Appearances: 5 (1999, 2002, 04, 06, 08) Record: P24 W14 H4 L6 Majors: 0 World ranking: 18 Remains the only teenager to have played in the Ryder Cup when he made his debut as a 19-year-old in 1999. The former world No.2 endured a long slump in form before finally bouncing back last year with two wins in Spain and another in the United States. Has a superb winning record in the event.

  • Peter Hanson

    Age: 34 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P3 W1 L2 Majors: 0 World ranking: 23 A late developer, the big Swede has been one of the most consistently good performers in world golf over the last year with top 10 finishes at the Masters and the USPGA. He won the Italian Open earlier this month.

  • Martin Kaymer

    Age: 27 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P4 W2 H1 L1 Majors: 1 (2010 USPGA) World ranking: 32 Won his first major in 2009 and held the world No.1 spot for eight weeks last year before tinkering with his swing at the Masters and subsequently losing some form. Has been struggling again of late but just held on to the 10th and final automatic qualifying spot.

  • Paul Lawrie

    Age: 43 Appearances: 1 (1999) Record: P5 W3 H1 L1 Majors: 1 (1999 British Open) World ranking: 29 Set at 43 to be the oldest player on either side, Lawrie gets his second cap 14 years after his debut thanks to a heart-warming return to form this year capped by a big win at Gleneagles in August. Was a shock British Open winner at Carnoustie in 1999, going on to win three and draw one of his five matchups at Brookline.

  • Graeme McDowell

    Age: 33 Appearances: 2 (2008, 10) Record: P8 W4 H2 L2 Majors: 1 (2010 US Open) World ranking: 17 Was the hero of Celtic Manor two years ago when he beat Hunter Mahan in the decisive final singles. Had a huge breakthrough at Pebble Beach in 2010 when he became Europe's first winner of the US Open in 40 years. Came close again this year when he finished second in San Francisco. Will likely partner Rory McIlroy as he did at Celtic Manor.

  • Rory McIlroy

    Age: 23 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P4 W1 H2 L1 Majors 2 (2011 US Open, 2012 USPGA) World ranking: 1 The youngest player on either side will be the European spearhead having won his second major in August at the USPGA and stormed ahead as the top ranking player in the world with back-to-back US Tour wins. Expected to partner close friend Graeme McDowell with whom he enjoyed success on his debut two years ago.

  • Francesco Molinari

    Age: 29 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P3 H1 L2 Majors: 0 World ranking: 30 Steady if unspectacular Molinari played as a wild card alongside older brother Edoardo two years ago achieving a vital fourball half. He then lost to Tiger Woods in the singles. Molinari is an automatic qualifier this time around having climbed into the world top 15 on the back of winning the Spanish Open and losing a playoff for the Scottish Open.

  • Ian Poulter

    Age: 36 Appearances: 3 (2004, 08, 10) Record: P11 W8 L3 Majors: 0 World ranking: 25 Is a Ryder Cup wild card for the second time having shown to the full his match play qualities four years ago at Valhalla. Inspired again at Celtic Manor two years ago with three wins out of four for an overall record of eight wins against three losses. A previous winner of both the WGC and Volvo World Matchplay titles, he is winless this year.

  • Justin Rose

    Age: 32 Appearances: 1 (2008) Record: P4 W3 L1 Majors: 0 World ranking: 9 Won three points out of four on his Ryder Cup debut at Valhalla in 2008, including a singles victory over Phil Mickelson, Rose has shown inconsistent form since then, entering and exiting the world top 10, but has looked good this year winning his first WGC title in March before tieing for third at the USPGA.

  • Lee Westwood

    Age: 39 Appearances: 7 (1997, 99, 2002, 04, 06, 08, 10) Record: P33 W16 H6 L11 Majors 0 World ranking: 4 The most experienced member of the European team is already a Ryder Cup legend having matched Arnold Palmer's record 12-game unbeaten cup run in 2008 and with 19 points is closing in on Nick Faldo's record of 25. Ended Tiger Woods's five-year reign as world number one in 2010, but frustatingly has yet to win a major.
  • Age: 46 Appearances: 7 (1987, 89, 91, 93, 97, 99, 2006) Record: Played 31 Won 18 Halved 5 Lost 8 Majors: 2 (1994, 99 Masters) Will always be remembered as the Ryder Cup partner of Seve Ballesteros with whom he chalked up 11 wins, two halves and only two defeats. A two-time winner of the Masters, Olazabal's playing career has been badly hit by rheumatism. He was vice-captain to Nick Faldo four years ago and to Colin Montgomerie in 2012.
  • Age: 29 Appearances: 2012 rookie World ranking: 35 Majors: 0 One of two wild cards picked by Jose Maria Olazabal, the big Belgian is the only rookie in the Europe team. Has come on in leaps and bounds in the last two years, winning the China Open last year and the World Match Play in May. Biggest hitter on EPGA Tour last year, which suits Medinah.
  • Age: 34 Appearances: 3 (2004, 06, 10) Record: P11 W8 H1 L2 World ranking: 3 Majors: 0 World No.1 for most of last year before Rory McIlroy took over, Donald has a good record in the Ryder Cup, winning three previous caps and losing only twice in 11 matchups. Perfect six out of six record in foursomes partnering Sergio Garcia four times and Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood once each.
  • Age: 32 Appearances: 5 (1999, 2002, 04, 06, 08) Record: P24 W14 H4 L6 Majors: 0 World ranking: 18 Remains the only teenager to have played in the Ryder Cup when he made his debut as a 19-year-old in 1999. The former world No.2 endured a long slump in form before finally bouncing back last year with two wins in Spain and another in the United States. Has a superb winning record in the event.
  • Age: 34 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P3 W1 L2 Majors: 0 World ranking: 23 A late developer, the big Swede has been one of the most consistently good performers in world golf over the last year with top 10 finishes at the Masters and the USPGA. He won the Italian Open earlier this month.
  • Age: 27 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P4 W2 H1 L1 Majors: 1 (2010 USPGA) World ranking: 32 Won his first major in 2009 and held the world No.1 spot for eight weeks last year before tinkering with his swing at the Masters and subsequently losing some form. Has been struggling again of late but just held on to the 10th and final automatic qualifying spot.
  • Age: 43 Appearances: 1 (1999) Record: P5 W3 H1 L1 Majors: 1 (1999 British Open) World ranking: 29 Set at 43 to be the oldest player on either side, Lawrie gets his second cap 14 years after his debut thanks to a heart-warming return to form this year capped by a big win at Gleneagles in August. Was a shock British Open winner at Carnoustie in 1999, going on to win three and draw one of his five matchups at Brookline.
  • Age: 33 Appearances: 2 (2008, 10) Record: P8 W4 H2 L2 Majors: 1 (2010 US Open) World ranking: 17 Was the hero of Celtic Manor two years ago when he beat Hunter Mahan in the decisive final singles. Had a huge breakthrough at Pebble Beach in 2010 when he became Europe's first winner of the US Open in 40 years. Came close again this year when he finished second in San Francisco. Will likely partner Rory McIlroy as he did at Celtic Manor.
  • Age: 23 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P4 W1 H2 L1 Majors 2 (2011 US Open, 2012 USPGA) World ranking: 1 The youngest player on either side will be the European spearhead having won his second major in August at the USPGA and stormed ahead as the top ranking player in the world with back-to-back US Tour wins. Expected to partner close friend Graeme McDowell with whom he enjoyed success on his debut two years ago.
  • Age: 29 Appearances: 1 (2010) Record: P3 H1 L2 Majors: 0 World ranking: 30 Steady if unspectacular Molinari played as a wild card alongside older brother Edoardo two years ago achieving a vital fourball half. He then lost to Tiger Woods in the singles. Molinari is an automatic qualifier this time around having climbed into the world top 15 on the back of winning the Spanish Open and losing a playoff for the Scottish Open.
  • Age: 36 Appearances: 3 (2004, 08, 10) Record: P11 W8 L3 Majors: 0 World ranking: 25 Is a Ryder Cup wild card for the second time having shown to the full his match play qualities four years ago at Valhalla. Inspired again at Celtic Manor two years ago with three wins out of four for an overall record of eight wins against three losses. A previous winner of both the WGC and Volvo World Matchplay titles, he is winless this year.
  • Age: 32 Appearances: 1 (2008) Record: P4 W3 L1 Majors: 0 World ranking: 9 Won three points out of four on his Ryder Cup debut at Valhalla in 2008, including a singles victory over Phil Mickelson, Rose has shown inconsistent form since then, entering and exiting the world top 10, but has looked good this year winning his first WGC title in March before tieing for third at the USPGA.
  • Age: 39 Appearances: 7 (1997, 99, 2002, 04, 06, 08, 10) Record: P33 W16 H6 L11 Majors 0 World ranking: 4 The most experienced member of the European team is already a Ryder Cup legend having matched Arnold Palmer's record 12-game unbeaten cup run in 2008 and with 19 points is closing in on Nick Faldo's record of 25. Ended Tiger Woods's five-year reign as world number one in 2010, but frustatingly has yet to win a major.

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