US Ryder Cup team profiles

DAVID DUVAL

Age 27. Born Jacksonville, Florida. Uncapped. Member of Walker Cup team at Portmarnock in 1991. Seven times a runner-up on US Tour before first victory in 1997 but has had nine more wins since. Leading money-winner last year and has vied with Tiger Woods for world number one spot this season. Shot closing 59 - the first ever on tour - in January.

Jim Furyk

Age 29. Born West Chester, Pennsylvannia. Caps: 1 (1997). Record: P3 W1 L2. Only three wins in six years on the US Tour but has already earned over £4million. Unorthodox swing but considered one of the best putters in golf. Beat Nick Faldo for his only win at Valderrama two years ago.

JUSTIN LEONARD

Age 27. Born Dallas, Texas. Caps: 1 (1997). Record: P4 H2 L2. Open champion at Troon in 1997 but two months later did not win a match on cup debut. Was four up after four holes on Thomas Bjorn in singles but only halved. Had chance for second Open title last month but lost play-off to Paul Lawrie. American amateur champion in 1992 and played in the Walker Cup the following year.

DAVIS LOVE

Age 35. Born Charlotte, North Carolina. Caps: 3 (1993, 1995, 1997). Record: P13 W5 L8. Had match-winning victory over Costantino Rocca on cup debut at the Belfry but lost all four games two years ago following his first Major win at US PGA. Father played on the tour but died in 1988 air crash. Second to Jose Maria Olazabal at the Masters in April.

JEFF MAGGERT

Age 35. Born Columbia, Missouri. Caps: 2 (1995, 1997). Record: P7 W4 L3. Won 1million in February at first world championship match play tournament in California, beating Tiger Woods in quarter-finals. Clung on to 10th place in qualifying table despite missing halfway cut in US PGA. Beat Lee Westwood in the singles at Valderrama.

PHIL MICKELSON

Age 29. Born San Diego, California. Caps: 2 (1995, 1997). Record: P7 W4 H2 L1. Unbeaten on debut four years ago and beat Darren Clarke in the singles at Valderrama. Left-hander who won on the US Tour as a 20-year-old amateur in 1991. Twelve more victories since but still no Major. Was runner-up to Payne Stewart in US Open in June the day before his wife gave birth.

MARK O'MEARA

Age 42. Born Goldsboro, North Carolina. Caps: 4 (1985, 1989, 1991, 1997). Record: P12 W4 H1 L7. Waited 18 years for first Major win at the Masters last year, then only three months for his second at the Open at Birkdale. Oldest ever player to win two Majors in one season. Also beat Tiger Woods in the final of the Cisco World Match Play at Wentworth last October and was named America's Player of the Year.

YNE STEWART

Age 42. Born Springfield, Missouri. Caps: 4 (1987, 1989, 1991, 1993). Record: P16 W8 H1 L7. A player known for his plus-four trousers returns to the match after four years having captured his second US Open with dramatic closing 18ft putt in June. Won first Major at 1989 US PGA, then 1991 US Open. Career nosedived three years later but battled back and was runner-up in US Open last year.

HAL SUTTON

Age 41. Born Shreveport, Louisiana. Caps: 2 (1985, 1987). Record: P9 W3 H3 L3. Was nicknamed "Bear Apparent" to Jack Nicklaus when he captured the 1983 US PGA and topped US Tour, but then went eight years without a win and slumped to 185th on the money list during that barren spell. But he won twice last season and this year has had 11 top-10 finishes in 19 starts. Family own oil company in his home town.

TIGER WOODS

Age 23. Born Cypress, California. Caps: 1 (1997). Record: P5 W1 H1 L3. Three-time US Amateur champion who won his first Major as a professional - the 1997 Masters - by a record 12 shots with record 18-under-par score. Became world number one in record time and remains easily the game's biggest attraction. Fifth victory of the year and second Major title came in US PGA this weekend. Has been on losing sides in Walker, Ryder, Dunhill and Presidents Cups - but all away from home.

WILD CARDS:

TOM LEHMAN. 40. Austin, Minnesota. Caps: 2 (1995-97). Record: P7 W3 H2 L2.

Wild card choice. The 1996 Open champion would have been automatic selection if he had not thrown away four-stroke lead at Buick Open two weeks ago. Injured shoulder playing with children on a funfair ride during last year's Open and needed surgery during winter. On cup debut beat Seve Ballesteros. Briefly world number one.

STEVETE. 38. Ventura, California. Caps: 1 (1991). Record: P2 H1 L1. Wild card choice. Cup debut remembered for car crash on way to gala dinner two days before match. Injured back and could play only fourball match. Used to be nicknamed 'Volcano' because of his temper, but has calmed down since fracturing wrist in another car accident in 1996 and cracking bone in other wrist later the same year.

BEN CRENSHAW (non-playing captain). Age 47. Born Austin, Texas. Masters champion 1984 and 1995, the latter just a week after the death of his mentor Harvey Penick. Won last of four Ryder Cup caps the same year. Known as "Gentle Ben" but lost his temper during crucial 1987 match with Eamonn Darcy, breaking his putter, and again with some of his own team last week over their attitude towards the Ryder Cup, which is close to his heart.