Ryder Cup: United States

Captain: Curtis Strange

Age: 47. Home state: Virginia.

Ryder Cup appearances: 5 (1983, 85, 87, 89, 95).

Ryder Cup record: P 20 W6 H2 L12.

Took on Nick Faldo in an 18-hole play-off for the 1988 US Open at Brookline and won. Also triumphed again a year later at Oak Hill to become the first player successfully to defend his title since Ben Hogan. Asked how he had done it, he replied: "Guts and pars." Always an intense and often a combustible character but these days has become a polished performer as a leading TV commentator. A former college player of the year, he won 17 times on the US Tour. Birdied the last four holes to beat Ian Woosnam and earn the US a tie at The Belfry in 1989. But as a wild card in 1995 he bogeyed the last three holes to lose to Faldo in the pivotal singles at Oak Hill. His vice-captain is Mike Hulbert.

Paul Azinger

Age: 42. Home state: Massachusetts. Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (1989, 91, 93). Ryder Cup record: P14 W5 H2 L7.

Pro wins: 14. World ranking: 50. Majors: 1.

First Ryder Cup match since lymphoid cancer was discovered after he won the 1993 US PGA. His illness kept him out of golf for a year, but in 2000 was selected for the President's Cup and plays here as a wild card selection again. Involved in controversial matches with Seve Ballesteros in 1989 and 1991.

Mark Calcavecchia

Age: 42. Home state: Nebraska.

Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (1987, 89, 91). Ryder Cup record: P11 W5 H1 L5.

Pro wins: 15. World ranking: 43. Majors: 1.

Profile: Back for fourth cap 11 years after dramatic halved match with Colin Montgomerie when he lost last four holes. Set US Tour record in winning Phoenix Open with 28-under-par total last season. Unbeaten in Ryder Cup foursomes but yet to win in fourballs.

Stewart Cink

Age: 29. Home state: Alabama.

Ryder Cup appearances: 0.

Pro wins: 3. World ranking: 55. Majors: 0.

Double-bogeyed the last hole to miss out on a place in a play-off for the US Open last year. Winner of nearly $8 million on the US Tour despite winning just two titles in more than 150 starts. Rookie of the Year in 1997 and won all four games on his President's Cup debut in 2000. Has had just two top-10 finishes on the Tour this season.

David Duval

Age: 30. Home state: Florida.

Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (1999). Ryder Cup record: P4 W1 H1 L2.

Pro wins: 13. World ranking: 12. Majors: 1

After string of near-misses finally broke his major duck at The Open last year. Had briefly taken world No 1 spot from Tiger Woods before that and became one of only three players to shoot 59 on US Tour. Injury-troubled and off-form after Lytham, missing the cut in both the Masters and the US Open this season.

Jim Furyk

Age: 32. Home state: Pennsylvania.

Ryder Cup appearances: 2 (1997, 99). Ryder Cup record: P6 W2 L4.

Pro wins: 8. World ranking: 10. Majors: 0.

Following wrist injury was reliant on wild card until he finished second in penultimate counting event. Unorthodox swing, but consistent. Only two cup wins have come in singles, over Nick Faldo at Valderrama and Sergio Garcia in Boston. Twice a winner in President's Cup singles as well.

Scott Hoch

Age: 46. Home state: North Carolina.

Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (1997). Ryder Cup record: P3 W2 H1.

Pro wins: 16. World ranking: 25. Majors: 0.

Missed two-footer to win 1989 Masters play-off against Nick Faldo, but had to wait eight years for cup debut. Chosen only for foursomes, won both, but in key singles could not beat Colin Mont-gomerie. Father was college baseball star and brother pro ten-pin bowler. Had first win for four years last season.

Davis Love III

Age: 38. Home state: North Carolina.

Ryder Cup appearances: 4 (1993, 95, 97, 99). Ryder Cup record: P13 W5 L8.

Pro wins: 16. World ranking: 7.

Majors: 1.

Had match-winning victory over Costantino Rocca on cup debut at The Belfry, but a month after his first major title at 1997 US PGA lost all his four games at Valderrama. Shared four consecutive World Cup wins with Fred Couples and is now most capped player in American team. Has had quiet season.

Phil Mickelson

Age: 32. Home state: California.

Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (1995, 97, 99). Ryder Cup record: P11 W6 H2 L3.

Pro wins: 22. World ranking: 2. Majors: 0.

World No 2 for the past year, but yet to end major hoodoo. Runner-up to Payne Stewart in 1999 US Open, to David Toms at US PGA last year and to Tiger Woods in this season's US Open. Has had 16 top-10 finishes in majors. Won on US Tour as 20-year-old amateur and was unbeaten on Ryder Cup debut.

Hal Sutton

Age: 44. Home state: Louisiana.

Ryder Cup appearances: 3 (1985, 87, 99). Cup record: P14 W6 H4 L4.

Pro wins: 14. World ranking: 121. Majors: 1.

America's most successful player last time with three wins and a half, but has gone into decline since beating Tiger Woods in 2000 Players' Championship. Nicknamed "Bear Apparent" to Jack Nicklaus when he captured 1983 US PGA and topped US Tour, but then went eight years without a win.

David Toms

Age: 35. Home state: Louisiana. Ryder Cup appearances: 0.

Pro wins: 7. World ranking: 6.

Majors: 1.

Earned debut in style by winning the US PGA, the final counting event, with lowest total ever achieved in majors. Had been 14th in the table, but leapt to fifth. On Masters debut in 1998 finished joint sixth after playing last nine holes in record-equalling 29, including six successive birdies. Then was fourth on Open debut in 2000.

Scott Verplank

Age: 38. Home state: Texas.

Ryder Cup appearances: 0.

Pro wins: 3. World ranking: 27.

Majors: 0.

Former US Amateur champion who won on Tour before turning pro. Diabetic who also had surgery in 1992 and 1995 to correct soft tissue pinching in his elbow. Went 12 years without winning until capturing the Reno-Tahoe Open in 2000, but consistency since made him the first uncapped American player ever to be handed a wild card.

Tiger Woods

Age: 26. Home state: Florida.

Ryder Cup appearances: 2 (1997, 99).

Ryder Cup record: P10 W3 H1 L6.

Pro wins: 45. World ranking: 1. Majors: 8.

Last year became first player to hold all four majors at same time since Bobby Jones in 1930. Started this season by winning Masters and US Open, but Slam dream ended at Open and had to settle for second at US PGA. Poor Ryder Cup record but, with eight majors, already golf's dominant personality.