Gallacher's guide to the United States...
MARK CALCAVECCHIA Age: 42. Ryder Cups: '87, '89, '91. Record: W5-L5-H1. World Ranking: 43 This has probably come a year too late for him. Although he had a good season to qualify, his form isn't so good now. You don't need to be scared of Calcavecchia.
STEWART CINK Age: 29. Ryder Cups: 0. World Ranking: 55 Stewart's very good but he stepped out of the way for Retief Goosen and Mark Brooks in last year's US Open. You just wonder if there is a weakness.
DAVID DUVAL Age: 30. Ryder Cups: '99. Record: W1-L2-H1. World Ranking: 12 A difficult one. He has gone from being one of the best to having a very poor season. Yet he is lying just inside the top 100 on the American money list. Clearly he has a problem with his game and he is very beatable this time.
JIM FURYK Age: 32. Ryder Cups: '97, '99. Record: W2-L4-H0. World Ranking: 10 Jim's underrated; he hits it down the middle and is a wonderful putter. He beat Sergio Garcia last time in singles play and will be one of Curtis's main players.
SCOTT HOCH Age: 46. Ryder Cups: '97. Record: W2-L0-H1. World Ranking: 25 Scott won two tournaments last year and he is a 'down the middle' player. But he is beatable.
DAVIS LOVE III Age: 38. Ryder Cups: '93, '95, '97 ,'99. Record: W6-L8-H3. World Ranking: 7 Davis has gone off a wee bit but he has a good record and will be a key player for Curtis.
PHIL MICKELSON Age: 32. Ryder Cups: '95, '97, '99. Record: W6-L3-H2. World Ranking: 2 A good Cup record. Suspect under pressure in the majors but solid in the Cup and he must be watched.
HAL SUTTON Age: 44. Ryder Cups: '85, '87, '99. Record: W6-L4-H4. World Ranking: 121 He is playing so poorly I wouldn't expect him to appear until the singles. It's come too late for Hal. He gets charged up but you need to back it up with your golf and he's not doing that.
DAVID TOMS Age: 35. Ryder Cups: 0. World Ranking: 6 David is relatively unknown here but he is a fine golfer, a US PGA champion and his form is still holding up. He could be the guy who plays with Tiger.
Read More
SCOTT VERPLANK Age: 38 Ryder Cups: 0. World Ranking: 27 The captain's personal choice and a fairly solid player. A straight hitter so The Belfry might suit him.
TIGER WOODS Age: 26. Ryder Cups: '97, '99. Record: W3-L6-H1. World Ranking: 1 Easily the best player in the world. The result of the Ryder Cup will depend on his play.
CAPTAIN - CURTIS STRANGE Age: 47. Ryder Cups: '83, '85, '87, '89, '95. Record: W6-L12-H2 He'll do everything in his power to try and retain the Cup. A tough guy, he's done his homework and his mission will be to get the best out of his players.
