RYDER CUP '23: Capsules of the European team in Rome

A capsule look at the European team for the Ryder Cup, to be played Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Marco Simone in Guidonia Montecelio, Italy (listed in order they made the team):

RORY MCILROY

Age: 34

Country: Northern Ireland

World ranking: 2

Ryder Cup record: 12-12-4

Career victories: 33

2023 victories: Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Genesis Scottish Open.

Majors: U.S. Open (2011), British Open (2014), PGA Championship (2012, 2014).

Ryder Cup partners: Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Andy Sullivan, Thomas Pieters, Thorbjorn Olesen, Shane Lowry.

Ryder Cup moment: Forgetting that Medinah was in the Central time zone and needing a police escort to avoid missing his tee time on Sunday.

Backspin: He and Rahm are the heart of the European team. McIlroy has a .500 record, a little on the low side for having played on four winning teams.

JON RAHM

Age: 28

Country: Spain

World ranking: 3

Ryder Cup record: 4-3-1

Career victories: 20

2023 victories: Sentry Tournament of Championship, The American Express, Genesis Invitational, Masters.

Majors: Masters (2023), U.S. Open (2021).

Ryder Cup partners: Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Tyrrell Hatton, Ian Poulter.

Ryder Cup moment: Beating Tiger Woods in France in his Ryder Cup debut.

Backspin: His favorite partner is Sergio Garcia, who is no longer eligible. He’s the only European to win a major this year.

ROBERT MACINTYRE

Age: 27

Country: Scotland

World ranking: 55

Ryder Cup record: Rookie

Career victories: 2

2023 victories: None.

Majors: None.

Ryder Cup partners: None.

Ryder Cup moment: Hanging on to earn the last automatic spot from the European points list.

Backspin: He loves to mix it up in shinty. The Ryder Cup will be a new experience. MacIntyre has a tendency to get off to slow starts.

VIKTOR HOVLAND

Age: 26

Country: Norway

World ranking: 4

Ryder Cup record: 0-3-2

Career victories: 10

2023 victories: Memorial, BMW Championship, Tour Championship.

Majors: None.

Ryder Cup partners: Paul Casey, Bernd Wiesberger, Tommy Fleetwood.

Ryder Cup moment: Having three partners in four matches in his Ryder Cup debut in 2021.

Backspin: His three wins since June would indicate he’s playing as well as anyone in the world. He is coming off a FedEx Cup title.

TYRRELL HATTON

Age: 31

Country: England

World ranking: 11

Ryder Cup record: 2-4-1

Career victories: 7

2023 victories: None.

Majors: None.

Ryder Cup partners: Paul Casey, Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry.

Ryder Cup moment: Hitting 5-iron to 7 feet on the 18th hole for birdie to earn a halve in fourballs with Rahm.

Backspin: Entertaining with his self-deprecating emotion, he stands out because of his iron play. Played two matches in fourballs at Whistling Straits, going 1-0-1.

MATT FITZPATRICK

Age: 29

Country: England

World ranking: 8

Ryder Cup record: 0-5-0

Career victories: 9

2023 victories: RBC Heritage.

Majors: U.S. Open (2022).

Ryder Cup partners: Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood.

Ryder Cup moment: Not getting a chance to play fourballs in either of his two Ryder Cup appearances.

Backspin: Has yet to win a Ryder Cup point, but he has played only foursomes and twice was put in the anchor match of blowout losses on the road. This will be his first Ryder Cup before home fans. Plus, he’s a U.S. Open champion.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD

Age: 32

Country: England

World ranking: 14

Ryder Cup record: 4-2-2

Career victories: 6

2023 victories: None.

Majors: None.

Ryder Cup partners: Francesco Molinari, Viktor Hovland.

Ryder Cup moment: Co-starring in “Moliwood” when he and Francesco Molinari went 4-0 as a tandem in France.

Backspin: He has been rounding into form since July, with five top 10s in his six starts going into the Ryder Cup.

SEPP STRAKA

Age: 30

Country: Austria

World ranking: 22

Ryder Cup record: Rookie

Career victories: 2

2023 victories: John Deere Classic.

Majors: None.

Ryder Cup partners: None.

Ryder Cup moment: Winning the Honda Classic in 2022 that gave him PGA Tour security and allowed him to join the European tour to become eligible for the Ryder Cup.

Backspin: Straka has two PGA Tour wins in the last two years. He describes himself as 100% Austrian and 100% American. Born in Vienna, he moved to Valdosta, Georgia, when he was 14. He never played for the U.S., only Austria.

JUSTIN ROSE

Age: 43

Country: England

World ranking: 36

Ryder Cup record: 13-7-2

Career victories: 23

2023 victories: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Majors: U.S. Open (2013).

Ryder Cup partners: Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer, Francesco Molinari, Henrik Stenson, Chris Wood.

Ryder Cup moment: Making a 45-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole against Phil Mickelson in a key singles victory during the comeback at Medinah.

Backspin: This will be his fifth Ryder Cup, second only to McIlroy in experience for Europe. He also is the oldest player for Europe.

SHANE LOWRY

Age: 36

Country: Ireland

World ranking: 34

Ryder Cup record: 1-2-0

Career victories: 6

2023 victories: None.

Majors: British Open (2019).

Ryder Cup partners: Rory McIlroy, Tyrrell Hatton.

Ryder Cup moment: Making a 10-foot par putt on the 18th to win a fourballs match with Tyrrell Hatton at Whistling Straits.

Backspin: His form this year raised questions whether he was a worthy captain's pick. Luke Donald believes Lowry, a British Open champion, thrives on the big stage.

NICOLAI HOJGAARD

Age: 22

Country: Denmark

World ranking: 81

Ryder Cup record: Rookie

Career victories: 2

2023 victories: None.

Majors: None.

Ryder Cup partners: None.

Ryder Cup moment: Learning he was a captain’s pick over Adrian Meronk.

Backspin: The joke is identical twin brother Rasmus could play matches and only swing gurus would know the difference. His last win was 46 tournaments ago.

LUDVIG ABERG

Age: 23

Country: Sweden

World ranking: 80

Ryder Cup record: Rookie

Career victories: 1

2023 victories: Omega European Masters.

Majors: None.

Ryder Cup partners: None.

Ryder Cup moment: Becoming the first to play in a Ryder Cup before playing in a major.

Backspin: Led the PGA Tour University ranking to earn a tour card in June when he finished at Texas Tech. Has won the European Masters for his first victory and had the 54-hole lead in the BMW PGA Championship, all amid expectations he will be Europe’s next great player.

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf