A capsule look at the European team for the Ryder Cup, listed in order of how they made the team. The Ryder Cup will be played Sept. 19-21 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky:
PADRAIG HARRINGTON
Age: 37
Country: Ireland
World ranking: 3
Ryder Cup teams: 4
Ryder Cup record: 7-8-2
2008 victories: British Open, PGA Championship.
Backspin: Has won three of the last six majors since the last Ryder Cup. Becomes only the fourth double major winner in the same year playing a Ryder Cup.
SERGIO GARCIA
Age: 28
Country: Spain
World ranking: 4
Ryder Cup teams: 4
Ryder Cup record: 14-4-2
2008 victories: The Players Championship.
Backspin: Has a 75 percent rate of earning points, the highest of any European on this team. Has an astounding 8-0 record in foursomes.
LEE WESTWOOD
Age: 35
Country: England
World ranking: 12
Ryder Cup teams: 5
Ryder Cup record: 14-8-3
2008 victories: None.
Backspin: Tied with Sergio Garcia as highest points-earner on this team with 15.5 points. Partners well with Garcia, but other partner, Darren Clarke, was left off the team.
HENRIK STENSON
Age: 32
Country: Sweden
World ranking: 6
Ryder Cup teams: 1
Ryder Cup record: 1-1-1
2008 victories: None.
Backspin: Holed the winning putt at the 2006 Ryder Cup. Tied for third in the British Open and tied for fourth in the PGA Championship. Won the 2007 Accenture Match Play Championship.
ROBERT KARLSSON
Age: 38
Country: Sweden
World ranking: 21
Ryder Cup teams: 1
Ryder Cup record: 0-1-2
2008 victories: None.
Backspin: Had four straight top 3s in the spring. Lost to Tiger Woods in singles in 2006. Earned two halves with Paul Casey at last Ryder Cup.
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ
Age: 44
Country: Spain
World ranking: 18
Ryder Cup teams: 2
Ryder Cup record: 2-5-2
2008 victories: BMW PGA Championship.
Backspin: Has had four partners in his two Ryder Cups _ Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal, Darren Clarke and Thomas Levet. Has sat out only one session in two Ryder Cups.
GRAEME MCDOWELL
Age: 29
Country: Northern Ireland
World ranking: 29
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0
2008 victories: Barclays Scottish Open, Ballantines Championship.
Backspin: Helped lead Great Britain & Ireland to victory in the 2001 Walker Cup. Won twice this year to earn his spot through the European points list.
JUSTIN ROSE
Age: 28
Country: England
World ranking: 14
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0
2008 victories: None.
Backspin: Won Order of Merit last year with playoff victory in the Volvo Masters. Has played only five times on European Tour this year.
SOREN HANSEN
Age: 34
Country: Denmark
World ranking: 45
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0
2008 victories: None
Backspin: Missed the cut in two majors this year. Seven top 10s on the European Tour this year.
OLIVER WILSON
Age: 27
Country: England
World ranking: 51
Ryder Cup teams: Rookie
Ryder Cup record: 0-0-0
2008 victories: None
Backspin: Has not won a tournament in his four years on the European Tour. Has three runner-up finishes this year.
PAUL CASEY
Age: 31
Country: England
World ranking: 35
Ryder Cup teams: 2
Ryder Cup record: 3-1-2
2008 victories: None.
Backspin: Went 2-0-2 in the last Ryder Cup, winning one match with an ace on the 14th hole. Won the HSBC World Match Play Championship in 2006, the year he was second in the Order of Merit.
IAN POULTER
Age: 32
Country: England
World ranking: 23
Ryder Cup teams: 1
Ryder Cup record: 1-1-0
2008 victories: None
Backspin: Only two top 10s this year, one of those runner-up at the British Open. Played only two matches in 2004, beating Chris Riley in singles. Skipped final qualifying event to play on U.S. tour, where he missed his second straight cut.
