Ryder Cup 2016 teams: Europe
Captain Darren Clarke leads Europe into the 41st Ryder Cup with a side including Rory McIlroy, Sergio García and Henrik Stenson.
Captain: Darren Clarke, age 48, Northern Ireland:
A winner in four of five Ryder Cup appearances as a player in 1997, 2002, 2004 and 2006 with a loss in 1999. Was unbeaten in three matches in 2006 and went 10-7 with 3 halved in all-time Cup play. Won the 2011 British Open at Royal St. Georges. A 14-time European Tour winner. Vice captain in 2012 and 2014.
Assistant captains: Thomas Bjorn (DEN), Padraig Harrington (IRL), Paul Lawrie (SCO), Ian Poulter (ENG), Sam Torrance (SCO)
Players
Rafael Cabrera Bello (ESP) (World Ranking 30):
The 32-year-old is among six Ryder Cup rookies on the European squad. He won the 2009 Austrian Open and 2012 Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour. His best finish in 14 major starts was a share of 17th this year in his Masters debut. Sister Emma plays on the Ladies European Tour. They grew up next to a golf course in the Canary Islands.
Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) (World Ranking 44):
The 22-year-old from Sheffield is among six Cup newcomers and six Englishmen on the European side. He won his first European Tour title last October at the British Masters at Woburn. He captured the Nordea Masters last June for his second tour crown. Fitzpatrick was low amateur at the 2013 British Open and 2014 US Open and shared seventh at this year's Masters in his first major as a professional.
Sergio García (ESP) (World Ranking 12):
The 36-year-old is making his eighth Ryder Cup appearance with a 18-9 and 5 halved career total. He won four points from foursomes and four-ball matches in 2006 at The K Club, a feat only Ian Woosnam had managed before. He won 4.5 points in 2004 at Oakland Hills. He is 3-4 in singles. He served as a vice captain in 2010 in the only Cup since 1999 in which he was not playing. Has been on five winning European teams. Twice a runner-up at the British Open and PGA Championship.
Martin Kaymer (GER) (World Ranking 48):
The 31-year-old captain's pick makes his fourth Ryder Cup start. He has a 4-3-3 record in Cup matches. Won his first major title in 2010 at the PGA Championship and added another at the 2014 US Open. Sank a six-foot putt to defeat Steve Stricker and secure the last point needed for Europe's 2012 "Miracle at Medinah" fightback Cup victory.
Rory McIlroy (NIR) (World Ranking 3):
The 27-year-old from Northern Ireland makes his fourth Ryder Cup start and has helped Europe to wins in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Has a 6-4-4 overall record including 2-0 with a halve in singles. Beat Rickie Fowler 5 and 4 in singles at Gleneagles in 2014. His four major titles include the 2011 US Open, 2012 and 2014 PGA Championships and the 2014 British Open.
Thomas Pieters (BEL) (World Ranking 42):
The 24-year-old has three European Tour titles in the past 13 months, including last year's Czech Masters and KLM Open and last month's Made in Denmark, which went a long way in convincing Darren Clarke to make him a captain's pick as a newcomer. Shared 30th this year at the British Open in his major debut, then finished 86th at the PGA Championship.
Justin Rose (ENG) (World Ranking 11):
The 36-year-old, born to English parents in South Africa, won the first Olympic golf gold medal since 1904 at Rio last month in a duel over Cup teammate Henrik Stenson. Rose and Stenson were a formidable pairing in the first two days at Gleneagles in 2014 and he went unbeaten with 4 points out of 5. He beat Phil Mickelson for a key point in the 2012 Miracle at Medinah. Rose won the 2013 US Open for his lone major title.
Henrik Stenson (SWE) (World Ranking 5):
The 40-year-old Swede won his first major title at this year's British Open, outfighting Phil Mickelson down the stretch at Royal Troon with a major championship record winning score of 264. Took Rio Olympic silver behind Justin Rose. In 2013 won the US PGA playoff crown and European Tour Race to Dubai, a historic double. Makes his fourth Cup start with a 5-4 and 2 halved record.
Andy Sullivan (ENG) (World Ranking 50):
The 30-year-old is among six newcomers and six Englishmen in Europe's Cup lineup. Won three times last year on the European Tour, capturing the South African Open, Joburg Open and Portugal Masters. Made his best showing in seven career major starts with a share of 12th at this year's British Open. Helped a British-Irish Walker Cup squad win the 2011 trophy over a US squad.
Lee Westwood (ENG) (World Ranking 46):
The 43-year-old captain's pick makes his 10th consecutive Ryder Cup start, boasting a record of 20-15 with six halved. Has played for seven trophy winners and lost only twice. Westwood went unbeaten in 2004 and 2006 and equaled the record by reaching 12 matches without loss in 2008. The former world number one has 23 European Tour triumphs, most recently at the 2014 Malaysian Open. Has three major runner-up efforts, including this year's Masters and the 2010 Masters and British Open, and six more thirds, without a major crown in 75 career major starts.
Danny Willett (ENG) (World Ranking 10):
The 28-year-old Englishman makes his first Ryder Cup appearance after capturing his first major crown at the Masters, aided by a back-nine collapse from leader Jordan Spieth. He was the first European in 17 years to win at Augusta National. Also won at Dubai in February and became a father this year.
Chris Wood (ENG) (World Ranking 32):
The 28-year-old Ryder Cup newcomer captured the biggest title of his career this year at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. At 6-foot-6 (1.98m) is matched with Pieters for tallest player on the team.