• Jordan Spieth - age: 21; Ryder experience: none; Ryder record: rookie. Season highlights: Spieth is the youngest player in the event by three years, and when the US last won the Ryder Cup on the road, he was exactly two months old. After an almost-storybook rookie season in 2013, Spieth has not contended nearly so often this year and he has not finished in the top 20 in his past five starts, including a missed cut at the PGA Championship. (Photo: Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images / AFP)
    Jordan Spieth - age: 21; Ryder experience: none; Ryder record: rookie. Season highlights: Spieth is the youngest player in the event by three years, and when the US last won the Ryder Cup on the road, he was exactly two months old. After an almost-storybook rookie season in 2013, Spieth has not contended nearly so often this year and he has not finished in the top 20 in his past five starts, including a missed cut at the PGA Championship. (Photo: Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images / AFP)
  • Bubba Watson - age: 35; Ryder experience: 2010, '12; Ryder record: 3-5-0. Season highlights: Watson got off to a stellar start in 2014, winning twice over the opening months, including his second Masters title. But he has mustered exactly one top-10 finish since winning at Augusta National, and it will be interesting to see who gets selected as his partner. Watson should like Gleneagles, reputed to be a bomber’s venue. (Photo: Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images / AFP)
    Bubba Watson - age: 35; Ryder experience: 2010, '12; Ryder record: 3-5-0. Season highlights: Watson got off to a stellar start in 2014, winning twice over the opening months, including his second Masters title. But he has mustered exactly one top-10 finish since winning at Augusta National, and it will be interesting to see who gets selected as his partner. Watson should like Gleneagles, reputed to be a bomber’s venue. (Photo: Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images / AFP)
  • Jim Furyk - age: 44; Ryder experience: 1997, '99, '02, '04, '06, '08, '10, '12; Ryder record: 9-17-4. Season highlights: Born five weeks before Mickelson, they have been Ryder fixtures for most of two decades, which is not necessarily good news. Where Mickelson ranks first in US Ryder losses, Furyk is tied for second. Furyk’s loss in singles in 2012, losing the last two holes, was critical to the European victory. Has failed to win the past seven times he has held the 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour. (Photo: Jim Rogash / Getty Images / AFP)
    Jim Furyk - age: 44; Ryder experience: 1997, '99, '02, '04, '06, '08, '10, '12; Ryder record: 9-17-4. Season highlights: Born five weeks before Mickelson, they have been Ryder fixtures for most of two decades, which is not necessarily good news. Where Mickelson ranks first in US Ryder losses, Furyk is tied for second. Furyk’s loss in singles in 2012, losing the last two holes, was critical to the European victory. Has failed to win the past seven times he has held the 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour. (Photo: Jim Rogash / Getty Images / AFP)
  • Rickie Fowler - age: 25; Ryder experience: 2010; Ryder record: 0-1-2. Season highlights: It was a breakout season for Fowler in many ways. In others, not so much. While he finished in the top five at all four majors, easily amassing the best cumulative score at the grand slam events, he has not won a tournament since early 2012. Though his record does not support the notion, Fowler was one of the most impressive players on the US team in Wales in 2010. (Photo: Jim Rogash / Getty Images / AFP)
    Rickie Fowler - age: 25; Ryder experience: 2010; Ryder record: 0-1-2. Season highlights: It was a breakout season for Fowler in many ways. In others, not so much. While he finished in the top five at all four majors, easily amassing the best cumulative score at the grand slam events, he has not won a tournament since early 2012. Though his record does not support the notion, Fowler was one of the most impressive players on the US team in Wales in 2010. (Photo: Jim Rogash / Getty Images / AFP)
  • Matt Kuchar - age: 36; Ryder experience: 2010, '12; Ryder record: 3-2-1. Season highlights: Up to his usual tricks, Kuchar has become one of the game’s elite players based primarily on his consistency, not his victory output. He won at Hilton Head earlier this year, but has 16 finishes in the top 25 already this season. Kuchar has battled back issues, and the availability of longtime caddie Lance Bennett is uncertain after the latter’s wife died suddenly two weeks ago. (Photo: Jim Rogash / Getty Images / AFP)
    Matt Kuchar - age: 36; Ryder experience: 2010, '12; Ryder record: 3-2-1. Season highlights: Up to his usual tricks, Kuchar has become one of the game’s elite players based primarily on his consistency, not his victory output. He won at Hilton Head earlier this year, but has 16 finishes in the top 25 already this season. Kuchar has battled back issues, and the availability of longtime caddie Lance Bennett is uncertain after the latter’s wife died suddenly two weeks ago. (Photo: Jim Rogash / Getty Images / AFP)
  • Patrick Reed - age: 24; Ryder experience: none; Ryder record: rookie. Season highlights: By far the least-known of the 12 Yanks, Reed reeled off three victories in a span of 14 starts beginning late last summer, including a huge World Golf Championships victory in March at Doral. Hardly lacking in confidence, his brash attitude could make for some interesting pairing scenarios. He could be this year’s sleeper player. (Photo: Jared Wickerham / Getty Images / AFP)
    Patrick Reed - age: 24; Ryder experience: none; Ryder record: rookie. Season highlights: By far the least-known of the 12 Yanks, Reed reeled off three victories in a span of 14 starts beginning late last summer, including a huge World Golf Championships victory in March at Doral. Hardly lacking in confidence, his brash attitude could make for some interesting pairing scenarios. He could be this year’s sleeper player. (Photo: Jared Wickerham / Getty Images / AFP)
  • Hunter Mahan - age: 32; Ryder experience: 2008, '10; Ryder record: 2-3-2. Season highlights: One of captain Tom Watson’s wildcard picks, Mahan turned around a forgettable 2014 season by winning two weeks ago. More than anything, he is remembered at the Ryder for losing the cup-deciding singles match with Graeme McDowell in 2010. Hardly a day goes by when he is not reminded of it, in fact. (Photo: Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images / AFP)
    Hunter Mahan - age: 32; Ryder experience: 2008, '10; Ryder record: 2-3-2. Season highlights: One of captain Tom Watson’s wildcard picks, Mahan turned around a forgettable 2014 season by winning two weeks ago. More than anything, he is remembered at the Ryder for losing the cup-deciding singles match with Graeme McDowell in 2010. Hardly a day goes by when he is not reminded of it, in fact. (Photo: Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images / AFP)
  • Jimmy Walker - age: 35; Ryder experience: none; Ryder record: rookie. Season highlights: He authored the most distinguished season on the American roster, winning three times after playing for over a decade without cashing a first-place check. Impressively, the Texan finished in the top 10 three times at the majors and was ninth last week in Boston. How will he perform in match play? Impossible to predict, though he has impressed all year when the pressure has mounted. (Photo: Jared Wickerham / Getty Images / AFP)
    Jimmy Walker - age: 35; Ryder experience: none; Ryder record: rookie. Season highlights: He authored the most distinguished season on the American roster, winning three times after playing for over a decade without cashing a first-place check. Impressively, the Texan finished in the top 10 three times at the majors and was ninth last week in Boston. How will he perform in match play? Impossible to predict, though he has impressed all year when the pressure has mounted. (Photo: Jared Wickerham / Getty Images / AFP)
  • Zach Johnson - age: 38; Ryder experience: 2006, '10, '12; Ryder record: 6-4-1. Season highlights: Forever undervalued, Johnson has had another solid season, winning the 2014 opener in Hawaii and climbing back into the world top 15. Johnson is not a glamour player, and is one of the shortest hitters on the US tour, but in an era of almost ceaseless US losses, he has somehow fashioned a winning record at the Ryder. (Photo: Scott Heppell / AP)
    Zach Johnson - age: 38; Ryder experience: 2006, '10, '12; Ryder record: 6-4-1. Season highlights: Forever undervalued, Johnson has had another solid season, winning the 2014 opener in Hawaii and climbing back into the world top 15. Johnson is not a glamour player, and is one of the shortest hitters on the US tour, but in an era of almost ceaseless US losses, he has somehow fashioned a winning record at the Ryder. (Photo: Scott Heppell / AP)
  • Keegan Bradley - age: 28; Ryder experience: 2012; Ryder record: 3-1-0. Season highlights: Bradley has established a reputation as a tenacious, and sometimes tedious, competitor. The 2011 PGA Championship winner has not won in two years, but showed enough in the second half of the season to warrant a wildcard pick. If paired with equally fidgety Furyk, they could drive European competitors insane. (Photo: Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images / AFP)
    Keegan Bradley - age: 28; Ryder experience: 2012; Ryder record: 3-1-0. Season highlights: Bradley has established a reputation as a tenacious, and sometimes tedious, competitor. The 2011 PGA Championship winner has not won in two years, but showed enough in the second half of the season to warrant a wildcard pick. If paired with equally fidgety Furyk, they could drive European competitors insane. (Photo: Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images / AFP)
  • Webb Simpson - age: 29; Ryder experience: 2012; Ryder record: 2-2-0. Season highlights: The lowest-ranked player on the US roster at world No 32, Simpson received a wildcard pick based largely on his top-10 finishes at two of his last three starts. Being a Ryder veteran did not hurt, either. He went 2-1 when paired with Bubba Watson at Medinah in 2012 before getting whipped by Ian Poulter in singles play. (Photo: Jared Wickerham / Getty Images / AFP)
    Webb Simpson - age: 29; Ryder experience: 2012; Ryder record: 2-2-0. Season highlights: The lowest-ranked player on the US roster at world No 32, Simpson received a wildcard pick based largely on his top-10 finishes at two of his last three starts. Being a Ryder veteran did not hurt, either. He went 2-1 when paired with Bubba Watson at Medinah in 2012 before getting whipped by Ian Poulter in singles play. (Photo: Jared Wickerham / Getty Images / AFP)

Golf

Steve Elling’s American Ryder Cup breakdown

Steve Elling

September 03, 2014

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Analysis of the 12 players that will compose the US squad for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Ryder CupPhil MickelsonGolf