PAUL CASEY (Eng). Age 29. Caps: 1 (2004). Record: P2 W1 L1. World ranking: 17. Majors: 0. Other wins: 7.

Confidence sky-high after winning £1million World Match Play title on Sunday. Beaten by Tiger Woods in singles on debut, but earlier fourball win with David Howell was crucial. World Cup winner with Luke Donald in 2004. Suffered slump last year, but now leads European Order of Merit and is at highest-ever position in world.

Qualifying position: 6

DARREN CLARKE. 38. Caps: 4 (1997-99-02-04). Record: P17 W7 H3 L7. World ranking: 24. Majors: 0. Other wins: 14.

Sure to receive rapturous reception. Declared himself available for selection after loss of wife Heather to cancer on August 13. Madrid Masters last week was first event since Open championship in July. Course record holder at K Club with 60 in 1999 and winner on course in 2001.

Qualifying position: 30 (wild card)

LUKE DONALD (Eng). 28. Caps: 1 (2004). Record: P4 W2 H1 L1. World ranking: 9. Majors: 0. Other wins: 5.

Fully justified wild card last time by partnering Sergio Garcia to two foursomes victories and Paul McGinley to an opening morning half in fourballs, but beaten by Chad Campbell in singles. Three times a winner in America since amateur career that included seven wins out of eight in the Walker Cup - two with Casey as partner.

Qualifying position: 2

SERGIO GARCIA (Spa). 26. Caps: 3 (1999-2002-04). Record: P15 W10 H2 L3. World ranking: 8. Majors: 0. Other wins: 15.

Europe's top-ranked player. Joint top scorer with fourball partner Lee Westwood last time, each dropping only half a point in five games. Was a star of the 1999 and 2002 matches as well. Twelve top 10 finishes in majors, but no win yet. Six victories in America equals record by a European.

Qualifying position: 3

PADRAIG HARRINGTON (Ire). 35. Caps: 3 (1999-2002-04). Record: P12 W7 H1 L4. World ranking: 18. Majors: 0. Other wins: 12.

Unthinkable that he would miss first cup match on Irish soil. Has finished in top three on European tour four times. Has won six of his last seven cup games. Won twice in America last year and lifted World Cup with fellow Dubliner Paul McGinley in 1997.

Qualifying position: 8

DAVID HOWELL (Eng). 31. Caps: 1 (2004). Record: P2 W1 L1. World ranking: 13. Majors: 0. Other wins: 5.

Debut remembered for "Shot of the Year" six-iron as he and Casey kept Europe on course for victory. Beat Tiger Woods in Shanghai last November and added BMW Championship in May to make world top 10 for first time. Lost European tour No 1 spot to Casey on Sunday.

Qualifying position: 4

ROBERT KARLSSON (Swe). 37. Caps: 0. World ranking: 36. Majors: 0. Other wins: 7.

Wins in Wales and Germany this season, followed by play-off loss in home country, catapulted 6ft 5in Swede to a debut denied him in 1999 when 11th in cup race. Finally makes it now 14 years after finishing runner-up to Nick Faldo at 1992 European Open. Qualifying position: 7

PAUL McGINLEY (Ire). 39. Caps: 2 (2002-04). Record: P6 W2 H3 L1. World ranking: 53. Majors: 0. Other wins: 4.

Had thrill of a lifetime when he sank winning putt at The Belfry on debut. Unbeaten in his three games in Detroit and rose to best-ever third in Europe last year, but has had worrying lean time lately.

Qualifying position: 9

COLIN MONTGOMERIE (Sco). 43. Caps: 7 (1991-93-95-97-99-2002-04). Record: P32 W19 H5 L8. World ranking: 14. Majors: 0. Other wins: 39.

Beaten only twice in last 18 cup games and never in singles. Holed match-winning putt last time. Second to Tiger Woods at Open last year en route to eighth Order of Merit title and might have won US Open in June but for closing double bogey.

Qualifying position: 5

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL (Spa). 40. Caps: 6 (1987-89-91-93-97-99). Record: P28 W15 H5 L8. World ranking: 19. Majors: 2 (Masters 1994-99). Other wins: 27.

Back after seven-year gap. With Seve Ballesteros formed devastating partnership - just two losses in 15.

Missed 1995 match through injury and was on receiving end of the 1999 putt by Justin Leonard that led to controversial scenes.

Qualifying position: 10

HENRIK STENSON (Swe). 30. Caps: 0. World ranking: 11. Majors: 0. Other wins: 4.

Long-hitter who looked certain to earn debut from early in cup race. Unbeaten in Seve Trophy last September and third at Players Championship in Florida in March. Won final qualifying event to top points table. Fiancee is professional golfer too.

Qualifying position: 1

LEE WESTWOOD (Eng). 33. Caps: 4 (1997-99-2002-04). Record: P20 W11 H1 L8. World ranking: 51. Majors: 0. Other wins: 27.

Twice a winner at the K Club during rise to European No 1 in 2000. Fell outside world's top 250, but was then part of 2002 victory and claimed 4 1/2 points out of five in last match. Has not won a tournament since, but record and recent form earned captain's pick.

Qualifying position: 21 (wild card)

CAPTAIN: IAN WOOSNAM (Wal). 48. Caps: 8 (1983-85-87-89-91-93-95-97). Record: P31 W14 H5 L12. Majors: 1 (Masters 1991). Other wins: 42.

Holds record for most fourball wins with 10 out of 14, but never won any of his eight singles. Became fourth successive British winner of Masters at Augusta and had 50-week stay as world number one. Member of five successful sides.

UNITED STATES

CHAD CAMPBELL (Andrews, Texas). 32. Caps: 1 (2004). Record: P3 W1 L2. World ranking: 22. Majors: 0. Other wins: 3.

Easily beat Luke Donald in singles after losing both fourball games. Voted by his peers in 2003 as "player most likely to win a major", but has yet to do so. Second in US PGA three years ago, beat Tiger Woods in Accenture match play in February and joint third at the Masters.

Qualifying position: 4

STEWART CINK (Huntsville, Alabama). 33. Caps: 2 (2002-04). Record: P7 W2 H1 L4. World ranking: 23. Majors: 0. Other wins: 4.

Chosen as wild card last time and a week later won NEC world championship. Nearly repeated the trick last month, but lost play-off to Woods and so still has not won for two years. Managed only one win and one half in four games in Detroit.

Qualifying position: 12 (wild card)

CHRIS DiMARCO (Huntington, New York). 37. Caps: 1 (2004). Record: P4 W2 H1 L1. World ranking: 15. Majors: 0. Other wins: 4.

Runner-up finish to Tiger Woods at Open in July ended mini-slump following skiing injury in March. Lost play-offs to Vijay Singh in 2004 US PGA and to Woods at 2005 Masters. Expected to partner Phil Mickelson.

Qualifying position: 6

JIM FURYK (West Chester, Pennsylvania). 36. Caps: 4 (1997-99-2002-04). Record: P15 W4 H2 L9. World ranking: 3. Majors: 1 (US Open 2003). Other wins: 15.

Fancied to become Tiger Woods' 11th cup partner after their Presidents Cup success. Poor record in cup, but did thrash David Howell six and four last time. Won Canadian Open two weeks ago and recent form second only to Woods.

Qualifying position: 3

JJ HENRY (Fairfield, Connecticut). 31. Caps: 0. World ranking: 64. Majors: 0. Other wins: 1.

Actual name Ronald Henry III, but always known as "JJ". Had played only three majors prior to this season. Maiden US Tour win came at 177th attempt in Buick Championship at start of July. Ranked 190th in the world going into 2006.

Qualifying position: 8

ZACH JOHNSON (Iowa City, Iowa). 30. Caps: 0. World ranking: 42. Majors: 0. Other wins: 1.

Turned professional in 1998, but did not make it onto US Tour until 2004. Became just the second player in the circuit's history to surpass two million dollars in rookie season. Two second places this year and was third in Accenture World Match Play in February.

Qualifying position: 9

PHIL MICKELSON (San Diego, California). 36. Caps: 5 (1995-97-99-2002-04). Record: P20 W9 H3 L8. World ranking: 2. Majors: 3 (Masters 2004-06, US PGA 2005). Other wins: 27.

Had nightmare time in last match after being paired the first day with Woods.

Broke major duck after 17 top 10 finishes, then added two more and needed closing par to win US Open in June, but double-bogeyed.

Qualifying position: 2

VAUGHN TAYLOR (Roanoke, Virginia). 30. Caps: 0. World ranking: 60. Majors: 0. Other wins: 2.

Family moved to Augusta when he was young and he learnt golf on public course. Finally made it to Masters there in April. Tour wins both came in Reno while the stars were away playing a world championship. Six top 10s this year.

Qualifying position: 7

DAVID TOMS (Monroe, Louisiana). 39. Caps: 2 (2002-04). Record: P8 W4 H1 L3. World ranking: 16. Majors: 1 (US PGA 2001). Other wins: 11.

Underwent heart surgery in November. Recorded lowest-ever total in majors in winning PGA five years ago. Was America's top scorer on debut at The Belfry, but won one of only three games last time.

Qualifying position: 5

SCOTT VERPLANK (Dallas, Texas). 42. Caps: 1 (2002). Record: P3 W2 L1. World ranking: 37. Majors: 0. Other wins: 4.

Wild card pick four years ago - the first time an American captain had picked an uncapped player - and again this time. Like Phil Mickelson won on US Tour when still an amateur. Recent injury scare and Davis Love was put on stand-by.

Qualifying position: 20 (wild card)

BRETT WETTERICH (Cincinnati, Ohio). 33. Caps: 0. World ranking: 68. Majors: 0. Other wins: 1.

Turned professional in 1994 and burst to prominence this season after surviving US Tour qualifying school with nothing to spare last December.

Won first title in May and was second at Memorial. Was 294th in world at start of year.

Qualifying position: 10

TIGER WOODS (Cypress, California). 30. Caps: 4. Record: P20 W7 H2 L11. World ranking: 1. Majors: 12 (Masters 1997-2001-02-05, US Open 2000-02, Open 2000-05-06, US PGA 1999-2000-06). Other wins: 59.

Now second in all-time major winners list and has nothing to prove except in the Ryder Cup, where he has already had 10 different partners and has tasted team defeat three times.

Qualifying position: 1

CAPTAIN: TOM LEHMAN (Austin, Minnesota). 47. Caps: 3 (1995-97-99). Record: P10 W5 H2 L3. Majors: 1 (Open 1996). Other wins: 8.

Won Open at Lytham and was runner-up in 1994 Masters and 1996 US Open. Unbeaten in Ryder Cup singles and world number one for one week in 1997. Would have qualified for team if he had won rather than lost play-off in last-but-one week of their points race. At 39th in the world is ranked higher than four of his team.