Team Europe’s wild card picks

Ian Poulter (Age 42); Caps 5 (2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014); Record: Won 12 Lost 4 Halved 2; Majors 0

Poulter was forced to settle for a vicecaptaincy role in 2016 due to injury and looked to have lost his PGA Tour card in 2017 before a mistake in the way his points had been calculated was spotted. Finished second in the Players Championship in his next event and won the Houston Open in 2018, his first title since 2012, to get into the Masters.

Paul Casey (41); Caps 3 (2004, 2006, 2008); Record: Won 3 Lost 2 Halved 4; Majors 0

Overlooked for a wild card by Colin Montgomerie in 2010 despite being ranked seventh in the world, Casey later gave up his European Tour membership and only rejoined at the end of 2017. Won his first PGA Tour title since 2009 in the Valspar Championship. Strong match play record includes victory in the HSBC World Match Play at Wentworth in 2006 and twice being runner-up in the WGC Match Play.

Henrik Stenson (42); Caps 4 (2006, 2008, 2014, 2016); Record: Won 7 Lost 7 Halved 2; Majors 1 (2016 Open)

Played a vital part in the victory at Gleneagles in 2014, combining with Justin Rose to win all three of their matches, although the same pair could only win one of their three matches at Hazeltine. Claimed his first major title with a record-breaking performance in the Open at Royal Troon in 2016 and claimed silver behind Rose in golf’s return to the Olympics in Rio.

Sergio Garcia (38); Caps 8 (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016); Record Won 19 Lost 11 Halved 7; Majors 1 (2017 Masters)

A talismanic figure for Europe, so much so that he was brought in as a vice-captain by Montgomerie in 2010 despite taking a two-month break from playing. However, after averaging 3.75 points in his first four Ryder Cup appearances, the Spaniard has averaged just 1.88 in his last four and has missed the cut in his last five major starts. His sole top 10 since March did at least come on the Ryder Cup course.