IT’S TOO CLOSE TO CALL

Derek Lawrenson’s High Court on the players and captains shooting for glory

USA

RICKIE FOWLER Age: 28. World Ranking: 9. Ryder Cup record: Lost 2

(2010-14). Matches (Won

lost-halved): Fourballs 0-0-3; Foursomes 0-2-1; Singles 0-2-0.

Season highlight: Impressive winner of the Abu Dhabi Championship in January, where he kept his nerve against a strong field. Verdict: After four victories RATING in 10 months he’s gone missing this summer and a wildcard is a real leap of faith.

JB HOLMES Age: 34. WR: 21. Ryder Cup record: Won 1 (2008). Matches: Fourballs 1-0-1; Foursomes 0-0-0; Singles 1-0-0.

Season highlight: Might be said to have won the other Open at Troon, since he was the leading finisher among everyone else. Verdict: A good wildcard. Long off the tee, fearless and, almost uniquely for an American, not scarred by previous losses. RYAN MOORE Age: 33. WR: 31 Ryder Cup record: Rookie. Season highlight: Showed what a gutsy performer he is in bringing out the greatness in Rory McIlroy at the FedEx Cup. Shot 64 in the final round to deserve the final wildcard. Verdict: Doesn’t hit it far off the tee and is easy to underestimate, but he’s a wonderful putter under pressure and that makes him a dangerous customer. ZACH JOHNSON Age: 40. WR: 27. Ryder Cup record: Lost 4 (2006-10-12-14). Matches: Fourballs 1-1-0; Foursomes 3-4-1; Singles 2-1-1.

Season highlight: Nothing that shouts out and nothing to compare to his Open victory in 2015. Verdict: A strong factor in a couple of Ryder Cups and feisty when on form but seems to have spent the year finishing 40th every week, which won’t get it done. BROOKS KOEPKA Age: 26. WR: 22. Ryder Cup record: Rookie. Season highlight: Gutsy display at the US PGA where he almost withdrew with a recurring ankle injury but played on and finished tied fourth. Verdict: One of those players you look at and think: he’s going right to the top. This Ryder Cup might be the breakout week that makes him a real household name.

MATT KUCHAR Age: 38. WR: 17.

Ryder Cup record: Lost 3 (2010-12-14). Matches: Fourballs: 2-1-2; Foursomes 1-2-0; Singles 1-2-0.

Season highlight: You could see his delight when he came through to make the podium and claim bronze at the Rio Olympics. Verdict: Wonderful putter so a useful fourballs player. Not the player you’d pick, however, to get you a point under pressure. PHIL MICKELSON Age: 46. WR: 14. Ryder Cup record: Won 2 (1999-2008); Lost 8 (1995-97-2002-04-06-10-12-14). Matches: Fourballs 7-8-2; Foursomes 4-6-4; Singles 5-5-1. Season highlight: Would have won most Opens with how he played at Troon. Unlucky to run into Henrik Stenson at the top of his form. Verdict: Great achievement to qualify for 11 Ryder Cups without once being a wildcard.

PATRICK REED Age: 26. WR: 8. Ryder Cup record: Lost 1 (2014). Matches: Fourballs 2-0-0; Foursomes 0-0-1; Singles 1-0-0.

Season highlight: A blistering start to the FedEx Cup play-offs with a fine victory at the Barclays event in New York last month.

Verdict: Brilliant in defeat last time, he can give Europe loads of problems, as he ramps up the crowd with his antics.

BRANDT SNEDEKER Age: 35. WR: 23. Ryder Cup record: Lost 1 (2012). Matches: Fourballs 0-0-0; Foursomes 1-1-0; Singles 0-1-0.

Season highlight: Enjoyed a wonderful start to the season, culminating in a victory in the Farmers Insurance Open in February.

Verdict: An exquisite putter but how many does he make when the chips are down? Fell by the wayside at Medinah. JORDAN SPIETH Age: 23. WR: 4. Ryder Cup record: Lost 1 (2014). Matches: Fourballs 2-0-0; Foursomes 0-0-1; Singles 0-1-0.

Season highlight: At the start of the year when he carried on from where he left off the previous season with a runaway victory in Hawaii.

Verdict: A quiet season after the double major victories of 2015 but no one doubts his class. Expect fireworks from the Texan. JIMMY WALKER Age: 37. WR: 16. Ryder Cup record: Lost 1 (2014). Matches: Fourballs 0-0-2; Foursomes 0-1-1; Singles 1-0-0.

Season highlight: An accomplished winner of the season’s final major, the USPGA.

Verdict: A tough man to beat if he brings all his skills. While others will grab the headlines, he could easily end up as America’s leading points scorer.

DAVIS LOVE (capt) Age: 52. Ryder Cup

record: Won 2 (1993, 1999) Lost 5 (1995, 1997, 2002, 2004 and 2012 as captain). Matches: Fourballs: 3-6-2; Foursomes 3-5-1; Singles 3-1-2.

Verdict: Davis Love is desperate to make amends for what happened on the final day at Medinah four years ago, but the US captain will have to do so with a team that’s not as good as that one…whatever he might say. FINAL VERDICT: 96

EUROPE

RAFA CABRERA-BELLO (Sp) Age: 32. WR: 29. Ryder Cup record: Rookie. Season highlight:

Pushed Danny Willett all the way in an exciting finish to the Dubai Desert Classic in February.

Verdict: Showed with his third place at the Accenture Match Play Championship in March that he can be a handy performer when it comes to 18-hole RATING match play. Consistent rather than spectacular.

MATT FITZPATRICK (Eng) Age: 22. WR: 44. Ryder Cup record: Rookie. Season highlight:

Showed his mettle at the Scandinavian Masters in June with a runaway victory for a second tour title despite his tender age. Verdict: Easy to get the wrong idea with his baby face and charming disposition. Underneath, however, lies the heart of a true competitor. A player America underestimates at its peril. SERGIO GARCIA (Sp) Age: 36. WR: 12.

Ryder Cup record: Won 5 2002-04-06-12-14) Lost 2 1999-2008). Matches: Fourballs (Won-lost-halved) 6-3-3; Foursomes: 9-2-2; Singles: 3-4-0.

Season highlight: Won for the first time in four years in America at the Byron Nelson tournament in May. Verdict: A real team player, pivotal to Europe’s chances. Can be proud of how he’s followed in Ollie’s and Seve’s footsteps. MARTIN KAYMER (Ger) Age: 31. WR: 52.

Ryder Cup record: Won 3 (2010-12-14). Lost 0. Matches: Fourballs 2-2-1; Foursomes 0-0-2; Singles 2-1-0.

Season highlight: Asked by the skipper to step up a gear in May, he responded with a fine run of consistency, though no victories. Verdict: Never quite trained on after his second major at the US Open in 2014. Needs a big week to justify his wildcard. RORY McILROY (N Ire) Age: 27. WR: 3. Ryder Cup record: Won 4 (2010-12-14-16). Lost 0. Matches: Fourballs 1-2-2; Foursomes 3-2-1; Singles 2-0-1.

Season highlight: The manner in which he claimed the FedEx Cup — and £9.2m — on Sunday to set him up for the next three days. Verdict: Not the season he hoped for with iffy performances in the majors but in the mood to play the Hazeltine hero.

THOMAS PIETERS (Bel) Age: 24. WR: 39. Ryder Cup record: Rookie. Season highlight:

Brilliant win in the Made in Denmark tournament when under the microscope for a Ryder Cup pick. Opened with a 61 while playing with Darren Clarke. Verdict: There are many shrewd judges who believe he is the next special one and, if he starts well, don’t be surprised if the Belgian plays all five matches. HENRIK STENSON (Swe) Age: 40. WR: 5. Ryder Cup record: Won 2 (2006-14) Lost 1 (2008). Matches: Fourballs 2-1-1; Foursomes 2-1-1; Singles 1-2-0. Season highlight: If you’re going to have to wait for your first major victory you may as well pull it off in style, with the finest last round in Open history. Verdict: All Europe will hope the Swede has won his battle over his wounded knee. ANDY SULLIVAN (Eng) Age: 29. WR: 48. Ryder Cup record: Rookie. Season highlight: Played beautiful golf in carving out a perfect record from three matches representing Europe in their triumph in the EurAsia Cup in January. Verdict: One of those players, with his effervescent personality, who you think is just going to take to the Ryder Cup as if to the manor born. LEE WESTWOOD (Eng) Age: 43. WR: 45. Ryder Cup record: Won 7 (1997, 2002-04-06-10-1214). Lost 2 (1999-2008). Matches: Fourballs 8-5-2; Foursomes 9-4-4; Singles 3-6-0. Season highlight: The forgotten man until a marvellous top three finish at the Masters. Verdict: The rock of so many of Europe’s victories. Has he got one more great performance to top Nick Faldo’s points record? DANNY WILLETT (Eng) Age: 28. WR: 10. Ryder Cup record: Rookie. Season highlight: Playing nerveless golf down the stretch at Augusta National to become the first Englishman in 20 years to win the Masters. Verdict: Good to see Willett return to form at the Italian Open. Has developed into one of the great pressure putters, and Europe will hope he shows why over the next three days.

CHRIS WOOD (Eng) Age: 28. WR: 30. Ryder Cup record: Rookie. Season highlight:

Winning Europe’s flagship tournament on English soil at Wentworth in front of all his friends and family. No wonder he described it as a dream come true.

Verdict: Likely to play only one or two fourballs matches before the singles but has the deadly putting stroke to make his limited appearances tell.

DARREN CLARKE (capt) (N Ire) Age: 48.

Ryder Cup record: Won 4 (1997, 2002, 2004, 2006). Lost 1 (1999). Matches: Fourballs 6-2-1; Fourballs 3-3-0; Singles 1-2-2.

Verdict: Has put his heart and soul into the captaincy over the past 18 months and you hope it turns out well for him. It’s going to be a long and desolate winter for the Northern Irishman if it does not. FINAL VERDICT: 97