Rory McIlroy
Age: 23
Ryder Cup caps: 1
Cup credentials: Fresh from his US PGA success, which he won by a remarkable eight strokes, McIlroy will be expected to be Europe's talisman. He made his Ryder Cup debut in 2010 and picked up two points from a possible four, including a crucial half with Stewart Cink in the final-day singles.
Did you know? McIlroy managed his first hole-in-one when he was just nine years old.