Sporting Life - Golf | 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club in Ireland, Europe v United States, Ian Woosnam, Tom Lehman, Tiger Woods, Colin Montgomerie, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald, Jim Furyk.

	Europe

Ian Woosnam - Captain

	Born	2.3.58
	Caps	8
	Record	P31 W14 H5 L12
	Ranking	292
Holds record for most fourball wins with 10 out of 14, but never won any of his eight singles. Became fourth successive British winner of Masters at Augusta and had 50-week stay as world number one.

Henrik Stenson

	Born	5.4.76
	Caps	0
	Record	Debut
	Ranking	11
Long-hitter who early in cup race had finishes of second, third, third, then looked certainty for debut after win in Qatar in January. Unbeaten in Seve Trophy and third at Players Championship in Florida in March. Won final qualifying event to top points table.

Luke Donald

	Born	7.12.77
	Caps	1
	Record	P4 W2 H1 L1
	Ranking	9
Fully justified wild card last time by partnering Sergio Garcia to two victories and Paul McGinley to a first-morning half. Three times a winner in America since glittering amateur career that included seven wins out of eight in the Walker Cup.

Sergio Garcia

	Born	9.1.80
	Caps	3
	Record	P15 W10 H2 L3
	Ranking	8
Joint top scorer with fourball partner Lee Westwood last time, each dropping only half a point in five games. Was a star of the 1999 and 2002 matches as well. Twelve top-10 finishes in majors, but no win.

David Howell

	Born	23.6.75
	Caps	1
	Record	P2 W1 L1
	Ranking	12
Debut remembered for 'Shot of the Year' six-iron as he and Paul Casey kept Europe on course for victory. Beat Tiger Woods in Shanghai last November and added BMW Championship in May to make world top 10 for first time.

Colin Montgomerie

	Born	23.6.63
	Caps	7
	Record	P32 W19 H5 L8
	Ranking	15
Beaten only twice in last 18 cup games and never in singles. Holed match-winning putt last time. Second to Tiger Woods at Open last year en route to eighth Order of Merit title and might have won US Open in June but for closing double bogey.

Paul Casey

	Born	21.7.77
	Caps	1
	Record	P2 W1 L1
	Ranking	27
Beaten by Tiger Woods in singles on debut, but earlier fourball win with David Howell was crucial. Unbeaten in 1999 Walker Cup with Luke Donald and the pair also teamed up to win 2004 World Cup.

Robert Karlsson

	Born	3.9.69
	Caps	0
	Record	Debut
	Ranking	43
Wins in Wales and Germany followed by play-off loss in home country catapulted 6ft 5in Swede to a debut denied him in 1999 when 11th in cup race. Finally makes it now 14 years after finishing runner-up to Nick Faldo at 1992 European Open.

Padraig Harrington

	Born	31.8.71
	Caps	3
	Record	P12 W7 H1 L4
	Ranking	17
Unthinkable that he would miss first cup match on Irish soil, but was not sure of place until final week. Has won six of his last seven games. Won twice in America last year and lifted World Cup with Paul McGinley in 1997.

Paul McGinley

	Born	16.12.66
	Caps	2
	Record	P6 W2 H3 L1
	Ranking	51
Had thrill of a lifetime when he sank winning putt at The Belfry on debut. Unbeaten in his three games in Detroit and rose to best-ever third in Europe last year, but has had worrying lean time lately.

Jose Maria Olazabal

	Born	5.2.66
	Caps	6
	Record	P28 W15 H5 L8.
	Ranking	18
Back after seven-year gap. With Seve Ballesteros formed devastating partnership - just two losses in 15. Missed 1995 match through injury and was on receiving end of the 1999 putt by Justin Leonard that led to controversial scenes.

Darren Clarke

	Born	14.8.68
	Caps	4
	Record	P17 W7 H3 L7
	Ranking	21
Sure to receive rapturous reception. Declared himself available for selection after loss of wife Heather to cancer on August 13. Has not played since Open. Course record holder at K Club with 60 in 1999.

Lee Westwood

	Born	24.4.73
	Caps	4
	Record	P20 W11 H1 L8
	Ranking	47
Twice a winner at the K Club during rise to European number one in 2000. Fell outside world's top 250, but was then part of 2002 victory and claimed 4.5 points out of five in last match. Captain's pick.

	USA

Tom Lehman - Captain

	Born	7.3.59
	Caps	3
	Record	P10 W5 H2 L3
	Ranking	40
Won Open at Lytham and runner-up in 1994 Masters and 1996 US Open. Unbeaten in Ryder Cup singles and would have qualified for team if he had won rather than lost play-off in Colorado on August 13.

Tiger Woods

	Born	30.12.75
	Caps	4
	Record	P20 W7 H2 L11
	Ranking	1
Now second in all-time major winners list and has nothing to prove except in the Ryder Cup, where he has already had 10 different partners and has tasted team defeat three times. Has won last five strokeplay events so in red-hot form.

Phil Mickelson

	Born	16.6.70
	Caps	16
	Record	P20 W9 H3 L8
	Ranking	2
Had nightmare time in last match after being paired the first day with Tiger Woods. Broke major duck after 17 top 10 finishes, then added two more and needed closing par to win US Open in June, but double-bogeyed.

Jim Furyk

	Born	12.5.70
	Caps	4
	Record	P15 W4 H2 L9
	Ranking	3
Fancied to become Tiger Woods' 11th cup partner after their Presidents Cup success. Surprisingly poor record considering how highly he is rated, but did thrash David Howell 6&4 last time.

Chad Campbell

	Born	31.5.74
	Caps	1
	Record	P3 W1 L2
	Ranking	20
Easily beat Luke Donald in singles after losing both fourball games. Voted by his peers in 2003 as 'player most likely to win a major', but has yet to do so. Second in 2003 US PGA, beat Tiger Woods in Accenture match play and joint third at the Masters.

David Toms

	Born	4.1.67
	Caps	2
	Record	W4 H1 L3
	Ranking	13
Underwent heart surgery in November. Recorded lowest-ever total in majors in winning USPGA in Atlanta five years ago. Was America's top scorer on debut at The Belfry, but won one of only three games last time at Oakland Hills.

Chris DiMarco

	Born	23.8.68
	Caps	1
	Record	P4 W2 H1 L1
	Ranking	16
Runner-up to Tiger Woods at Open in July ended mini-slump following skiing injury in March. Lost play-offs to Vijay Singh in 2004 USPGA and to Woods at 2005 Masters. Expected to partner Phil Mickelson.

Vaughn Taylor

	Born	9.3.76
	Caps	0
	Record	Debut
	Ranking	57
Family moved to Augusta when he was young and he learnt golf on public course. Finally made it to Masters there in April. Tour wins both came in Reno while the stars were away playing a world championship. Six top 10s this year.

JJ Henry

	Born	2.4.75
	Caps	0
	Record	Debut
	Ranking	63
Actual name Ronald Henry III, but always known as 'JJ'. Had played only three majors prior to this season. Maiden US Tour win came at 177th attempt in Buick Championship at start of July. Ranked 190th in the world going into 2006.

Zach Johnson

	Born	24.2.76
	Caps	0
	Record	Debut
	Ranking	38
Turned professional in 1998, but did not make it onto US Tour until 2004. Became just the second player in the circuit's history to surpass two million dollars in rookie season. Third in World Match Play.

Brett Wetterich

	Born	9.8.73
	Caps	0
	Record	Debut
	Ranking	61
Turned professional in 1994 and burst to prominence this season after surviving US Tour qualifying school with nothing to spare last December. Won first title in May and was second at Memorial. Was 294th in world at start of year.

Stewart Cink

	Born	21.5.73
	Caps	2
	Record	P7 W2 H1 L4
	Ranking	22
Chosen as wild card last time and a week later won NEC world championship in climb to world's top 10. Disappointed in Detroit and at Presidents Cup and has not won since. Captain's pick again.

Scott Verplank

	Born	8.7.64
	Caps	1
	Record	P3 W2 L1
	Ranking	34
Wild card pick four years ago - the first time an American captain had picked an uncapped player - and again this time. Like Phil Mickelson won on US Tour when still an amateur.