Ryder Cup 2018: Meet Thomas Bjorn's European team

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Europe will attempt to regain the Ryder Cup when they face the United States in Paris this week.

    Here, we take a look at the 12 players in captain Thomas Bjorn’s team for the biennial contest at Le Golf National which gets underway on Friday.

    RORY MCILROY: The four-time major winner won three matches with Thomas Pieters at Hazeltine but was beaten in a thrilling singles contest with Patrick Reed. Has the ability to light up the big stage, but has not tasted major success since 2014. Still remains Europe’s leading light.

    IAN POULTER: The 2016 vice-captain has been in blistering form this season, finishing second at the Players Championship and winning the Houston Open – his first win in nearly six years. Has the experience and confidence to be a seminal part of the side.

    HENRIK STENSON: The Swede clinched his first major title at the Open Championship in 2016 and won silver at the Rio Olympics. His elbow injury could be a concern but the 42-year-old is undoubtedly one of Bjorn’s key men having played in two Ryder Cup winning teams.

    PAUL CASEY: The venerable Englishman won his first PGA Tour title since 2009 in the Valspar Championship in March, finishing one shot clear of Tiger Woods. Boasts an impeccable match play record with victory at Wentworth in 2006 and twice a runner-up in the WGC Match Play.

    THORBJORN OLESEN: A rocksolid presence on the European Tour, the 28-year-old Dane clinched a win at the Italian Open in June and followed it up with four top-six finishes. Sealed his spot with a T20 finish in the final qualifying event at Silkeborg earlier this month.

    TOMMY FLEETWOOD: The Englishman opened his year with a superb win at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and has looked sublime since. His record-equalling round of 63 to finish a shot behind Brooks Koepka at the US Open is among his stand-out displays this season.

    JON RAHM: Clinched victories at the CareerBuilder Challenge and Spanish Open as well as top-four finishes at the Masters and PGA Championship. His fifth place at the French Open shows he has form around the greens at Le Golf National. Will be one of the stars Bjorn will be looking to for inspiration.

    SERGIO GARCIA: The ironman of so many great Ryder Cup moments has missed eight cuts this season and enters the biennial event lacking in form and confidence. His only top-10 since March came at Le Golf National, but it is hoped he can rediscover his form this weekend.

    TYRRELL HATTON: Two top-three finishes early this year effectively secured his place on the team. Finished sixth in the US Open and 10th in the PGA Championship. But it was his final round 64 in New Jersey four weeks ago that stole the headlines, with a putter he bought in a local shop the night before the tournament.

    ALEX NOREN: The Swede lost a play-off to Jason Day in the Farmers Insurance Open in January and also reached the semi-finals of the WGC-Dell Match Play. He sealed his spot on the team by coming from seven-shots behind to win the French Open in July.

    FRANCESCO MOLINARI: The Italian has never been on a losing Ryder Cup team. Although he failed to win any of his six singles matches, he has taken his game to a different level in 2018, with three tournament wins, including a first major at the Open Championship.

    JUSTIN ROSE: Played all five matches in each of the last three Ryder Cups. Hands down Europe’s most dangerous player on current form, with back-to-back runner-up finishes in the FedEx Cup play-offs and a T4 finish at the recent Tour Championship.

    Recommended