A c plus capsule Test look at the American team in the Ryder Cup, to be played Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Marco Simone in Guidonia Montecelio, Italy (listed in order they made the team):
Age: 27
World ranking: 1
Ryder Cup record: 2-0-1
Career victories: 6
2023 victories: WM Phoenix Open, The Players Championship.
FILE – Ryder Cup 2023 Team USA; Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, Wyndham Clark, Rickie Fowler, Brian Harman, Max Homa, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas (AP Photo/File)
Majors: Masters (2022).
Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Bryson DeChambeau, Sam Burns.
Ryder Cup moment: Opening with four straight birdies to build a 4-up lead and beating Jon Rahm, 4 and 3, at Whistling Straits.
Backspin: The world´s No. 1 player is the premier ball-striker in golf. The attention over the last half of the year was not making putts.
Age: 29
World ranking: 10
Ryder Cup record: Rookie
Career victories: 2
2023 victories: Wells Fargo Championship, U.S. Open.
Majors: U.S. Open (2023).
Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: None.
Ryder Cup moment: Winning his first major to secure a spot on the team.
Backspin: Clark was No. 204 in the world ranking the last time the Ryder Cup was played. His two wins this year were the U.S. Open over Rory McIlroy and the Wells Fargo Championship over Xander Schauffele.
Age: 36
World ranking: 9
Ryder Cup record: Rookie
Career victories: 3
2023 victories: British Open.
Majors: British Open (2023).
Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: None.
Ryder Cup moment: Never finishing higher than 17th in the Ryder Cup standings until winning the British Open and finishing third.
Backspin: His putting and grit always suited him for match play, and he has a particular toughness about him when it comes to playing for the flag.
Age: 31
World ranking: 5
Ryder Cup record: 3-0-1
Career victories: 8
2023 victories: None.
Majors: None.
Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas.
Ryder Cup moment: Going unbeaten in four matches in his first Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.
Backspin: One of five players on the U.S. team who went winless in 2023.
Age: 32
World ranking: 7
Ryder Cup record: Rookie
Career victories: 6
2023 victories: Farmers Insurance Open.
Majors: None.
Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Tony Finau, Billy Horschel.
Ryder Cup moment: Seeing the size of the first tee at Marco Simone and realizing this wasn´t the Presidents Cup.
Backspin: Homa went 4-0 in his first team experience at the Presidents Cup and is capable of pairing with several players.
Age: 29
World ranking: 6
Ryder Cup record: 3-1-0
Career victories: 8
2023 victories: None.
Majors: None.
Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Patrick Cantlay, Dustin Johnson
Ryder Cup moment: Lighting up his cigar after the U.S. victory at Whistling Straits.
Backspin: Much like Cantlay, he has no real weakness to his game except for not winning more often. Brings a no-nonsense attitude to the matches.
Age: 33
World ranking: 15
Ryder Cup record: 6-5-1
Career victories: 14
2023 victories: LIV Golf-Orlando, PGA Championship.
Majors: U.S. Open (2017, 2018), PGA Championship (2018, 2019, 2023).
Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Brandt Snedeker, Dustin Johnson, Daniel Berger, Tony Finau, Jordan Spieth.
Ryder Cup moment: Tying for fourth in the 2016 PGA Championship on an injured ankle in a bid to make his first Ryder Cup team (he did).
Backspin: The only player from LIV Golf at Marco Simone. His record in the majors speaks for itself. But he hasn´t performed well since June.
Age: 30
World ranking: 12
Ryder Cup record: 8-7-3
Career victories: 16
2023 victories: None.
Majors: Masters (2015), U.S. Open (2015), British Open (2017).
Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka.
Ryder Cup moment: Nearly running into Lake Michigan after an incredible shot on the side of a steep hill at Whistling Straits.
Backspin: Renowned for his putting and his partnership with Justin Thomas. He has never won a singles match in four Ryder Cups.
Age: 26
World ranking: 19
Ryder Cup record: 3-0-1
Career victories: 6
2023 victories: None.
Majors: PGA Championship (2020), British Open (2021).
Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Dustin Johnson, Cameron Young.
Ryder Cup moment: Getting the Ryder Cup-clinching point at Whistling Straits in the only match he didn´t win all week (it was a halve).
Backspin: His driving and iron play is getting back to his standard. The two partners he´s had in team competition are not on the team.
Age: 27
World ranking: 20
Ryder Cup record: Rookie
Career victories: 5
2023 victories: WGC-Dell Match Play.
Majors: None.
Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Scottie Scheffler.
Ryder Cup moment: Getting left off 2021 team in favor of best friend Scottie Scheffler.
Backspin: He won the Dell Match Play in March based on his putting, one of his greatest assets. He and Scheffler were ineffective at Presidents Cup.
Age: 34
World ranking: 25
Ryder Cup record: 3-7-5
Career victories: 10
2023 victories: Rocket Mortgage Classic.
Majors: None.
Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Jimmy Walker, Patrick Reed, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Gary Woodland.
Ryder Cup moment: Falling 3 down to Edoardo Molinari and then winning the last three holes for a halve at Celtic Manor in 2010.
Backspin: He ended a four-year winning drought in July. A controversial pick, mainly because he has a 1-6-5 Ryder Cup record on the road and went three Ryder Cups before winning his first match.
Age: 30
World ranking: 24
Ryder Cup record: 6-2-1
Career victories: 15
2023 victories: None.
Majors: PGA Championship (2017, 2022).
Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup partners: Rickie Fowler, Daniel Berger, Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay.
Ryder Cup moment: Taking down Rory McIlroy in singles in his Ryder Cup debut.
Backspin: He will get scrutiny for being a captain´s pick without reaching the FedEx Cup playoffs. But this pick was never in doubt. His Ryder Cup record and passion make him hard to leave off the team.
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AP golf: website CUP ’23: Capsules of the US players at Marco Simone