The Europe Team

European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has confirmed his 12-man team that will do battle with America at Celtic Manor this October.

Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Graham McDowell, Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher, Francesco Molinari, Peter Hanson and Miguel Angel Jimenez confirmed their places in the team following the weekend’s Johnnie Walker Championship, leaving Monty with a virtually impossible decision to make.

Three-time Major champion Padraig Harrington, world number eight Paul Casey, world number 10 Luke Donald, two-time winner in America this season Justin Rose and Johnnie Walker champion Edoardo Molinari were all vying it out for one of Monty’s three wildcard picks.

That’s not to mention Europe’s longest hitter Alvaro Quiros, Welshman Rhys Davies, Swedes Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson and out-of-form Sergio Garcia who would all have been expecting to the there or therabouts but found themselves outside the reckoning.

Ultimately, the Scot went to for the experience of Harrington, fine Ryder Cup record of Donald and the birdie-birdie-birdie finish of Edoardo Molinari at the weekend was enough to edge out the unlucky Paul Casey.

 

THE CAPTAIN

COLIN MONTGOMERIE

AGE: 47
NATIONALITY: Scottish
WORLD RANKING: 400
PRO WINS: 40
MAJORS: None
RC APPEARANCES: ’91, ’93, ’95, ’97, ’99, ’02, ’04, ’06
RC RECORD: W-20, L-9, H-7

 

THE TEAM

ROSS FISHER

AGE: 29
NATIONALITY: English
WORLD RANKING: 28
PRO WINS: Four
MAJORS: None
RC APPEARANCES: Rookie
RC RECORD: N/A

PETER HANSON 

AGE: 32
NATIONALITY: Swedish
WORLD RANKING: 40
PRO WINS: Ten
MAJORS: None
RC APPEARANCES: Rookie
RC RECORD: N/A

MIGUEL JIMENEZ 

AGE: 46
NATIONALITY: Spanish
WORLD RANKING: 39
PRO WINS: 20
MAJORS: None
RC APPEARANCES: ’99, ’04, ’08
RC RECORD: W2-L7-H3

MARTIN KAYMER 

AGE: 25
NATIONALITY: German
WORLD RANKING: Five
PRO WINS: 14
MAJORS: One
RC APPEARANCES: Rookie
RC RECORD: N/A

GRAEME MCDOWELL 

AGE: 31
NATIONALITY: N Irish
WORLD RANKING: 13
PRO WINS: Six
MAJORS: One
RC APPEARANCES: ’08
RC RECORD: W2-L1-H1

RORY MCILROY 

AGE: 21
NATIONALITY: Northern Irish
WORLD RANKING: Seven
PRO WINS: Two
MAJORS: None
RC APPEARANCES: Rookie
RC RECORD: N/A

FRANCESCO MOLINARI 

AGE: 27
NATIONALITY: Italian
WORLD RANKING: 38
PRO WINS: Three
MAJORS: None
RC APPEARANCES: Rookie
RC RECORD: N/A

IAN POULTER 

AGE: 34
NATIONALITY: English
WORLD RANKING: 11
PRO WINS: 11
MAJORS: None
RC APPEARANCES: ’04, ’08
RC RECORD: W5-L2-H0

LEE WESTWOOD 

AGE: 37
NATIONALITY: English
WORLD RANKING: Three
PRO WINS: 32
MAJORS: None
RC APPEARANCES: ’97, ’99, ’02, ’04, ’06, ’08
RC RECORD: W14-L10-H5

 

THE WILDCARDS

LUKE DONALD 

AGE: 32
NATIONALITY: English
WORLD RANKING: 10
PRO WINS: Seven
MAJORS: None
RC APPEARANCES: ’04, ’06
RC RECORD: W-5, L-1, H-1

PADRAIG HARRINGTON 

AGE: 39
NATIONALITY: Irish
WORLD RANKING: 18
PRO WINS: 25
MAJORS: Three
RC APPEARANCES: ’99, ’02, ’04, ’06, ’08
RC RECORD: W-7, L-11, H-3

EDOARDO MOLINARI 

AGE: 30
NATIONALITY: English
WORLD RANKING: 23
PRO WINS: Nine
MAJORS: None
RC APPEARANCES: ’08
RC RECORD: W-3, L-1, H-0