Ryder Cup: USA player profiles

Player profiles: United States Keegan Bradley Born: June 7, 1986, Woodstock, Vermont World ranking: 14 Ryder Cup appearances: None Record: None

Since winning the 2011 PGA Championship, Bradley has established himself as a genuine world player. Recent form has seen him win the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, before finishing tied-3rd at the 2012 PGA Championship.

Jason Dufner Born: March 24, 1977, Cleveland, Ohio World ranking: 9 Ryder Cup appearances: None Record: None

At 35, Dufner is the oldest rookie in the 2012 Ryder Cup. He joined the PGA Tour in 2004, but made first major impact when he lost a play-off to Keegan Bradley in the 2011 PGA. Dufner has won his first two titles on the PGA Tour this year. Jim Furyk Born: May 12, 1970, West Chester, Pennsylvania World ranking: 23 Ryder Cup appearances: 8 Record: W 8 - L 15 - H 4

2003 US Open winner Furyk, 42, is one of Davis Love's four wildcards. Furyk's form has been erratic in 2012, but he has proven nerve in the Ryder Cup, and only Woods and Mickelson have won more Ryder Cup points on this year's team. Dustin Johnson Born: June 22, 1984, Columbia, South Carolina World ranking: 13 Ryder Cup appearances: 1 Record: W 1 - L 3 - H 0

Johnson contends with Dufner and Stricker as best Americans without a major. Won his 6th PGA Tour title in June, and has found impressive form in the Fed-Ex Play-offs. He is long off the tee, which suits Medinah - an easy pick for Love.

Zach Johnson Born: February 24, 1976, Iowa City, Iowa World ranking: 17 Ryder Cup appearances: 2 Record: W 3 - L 3 - H 1

Johnson's form has been mixed over the last two years, although a pair of PGA Tour victories earned him a place on the US team. He has played in two Ryder Cups, although missed the last US win in 2008, so is yet to be on winning team.

Matt Kuchar Born: June 21, 1978, Winter Park, Florida World ranking: 15 Ryder Cup appearances: 1 Record: W 1 - L 1 - H 2

Having finished tied-3rd in the Masters this year, Kuchar earned his fourth career win in the Players Championship in his home state in May. Kuchar's form has cooled since top-10s in the Open and the Bridgestone Invitational.

Phil Mickelson Born: June 16, 1970, San Diego, California World ranking: 16 Ryder Cup appearances: 8 Record: W 11 - L 17 - H 6

With 47 career wins, including four majors, only Tiger's individual career record eclipses Mickelson's among the 24 golfers in Medinah. Like Furyk, this will be Mickelson's 9th Ryder Cup. He is unpredictable, but always a threat.

Webb Simpson Born: August 8, 1985, Raleigh, North Carolina World ranking: 8 Ryder Cup appearances: None Record: None

Simpson broke through in 2011, as he won twice on the PGA Tour, before claiming the US Open at the Olympic Club this year. Since then his golf has gone quiet, partly due to taking time off around the birth of his second child in July. Brandt Snedeker Born: December 8, 1980, Nashville, Tennessee World ranking: 10 Ryder Cup appearances: None Record: None

Since receiving one of Love's four wildcards, Snedeker has risen to the challenge and found the form of his life in the FedEx Cup. Victory in last week's Tour Championship was emphatic, and Snedeker's putting is peerless right now. Steve Stricker Born: February 23, 1967, Edgerton, Wisconsin World ranking: 12 Ryder Cup appearances: 2 Record: W 3 - L 3 - H 1

Stricker is the most seasoned member of the US team, at 45, yet he has found the best form of his career since turning 40. A wildcard pick, Stricker has played well in recent weeks, and is seen as one of few golfers who can partner Woods. Bubba Watson Born: November 5, 1978, Bagdad, Florida World ranking: 7 Ryder Cup appearances: 1 Record: W 1 - L 3 - H 0

Enjoying a career year, Watson claimed his fourth career title at this year's Masters, defeating Louis Oosthuizen in a play-off. An instinctive golfer without a technical thought in his mind, he is prodigious off the tee and made for fourballs.

Tiger Woods Born: December 30, 1975, Cypress, California World ranking: 2 Ryder Cup appearances: 5 Record: W 13 - L 14 - H 2

Woods looks to be gradually returning to omnipotent form. Without a Tour win in 2010 and 2011 after personal scandal and injury, Woods has won three times in 2012, although he has always struggled to thrive in team events.

Profiles courtesy of Mercedes-Benz, the official car of the 2012 Ryder Cup