Feature: Ryder Cup teams and course preview

The 43rd edition of the Ryder Cup is upon us and the sporting rivalry between the United States and Europe is renewed as the top golfers from either side meet for an epic showdown at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, Friday through Sunday.

Here is a brief look at the two teams that will battle it out at the biennial match play, as well as a look into some of the course holes worth the watch:

EUROPEAN TEAM IN BRIEF

Jon Rahm, Spain

Age: 26
World ranking: 1
US PGA Tour victories: 6
European Tour victories: 7
Major championship titles: 1 (2021 US Open)
Ryder Cup record: 1-2-0 (2018)

Viktor Hovland, Norway

Age: 23
World ranking: 14
US PGA Tour victories: 2
European Tour victories: 1
Ryder Cup rookie

Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland

Age: 32
World ranking: 15
US PGA Tour victories: 19
European Tour victories: 14
Major championship titles: 4 (2011 US Open; 2014, 2012 PGA Championship; 2014 Open Championship)
Ryder Cup record: 11-9-4 (2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010)

Tyrrell Hatton, England

Age: 29
World ranking: 19
US PGA Tour victories: 1
European Tour victories: 6
Ryder Cup record: 1-2-0 (2018)

Paul Casey, England

Age: 44
World ranking: 24
US PGA Tour victories: 3
European Tour victories: 15
Ryder Cup record: 4-3-5 (2018, 2008, 2006, 2004)

Matthew Fitzpatrick, England

Age: 27
World ranking: 27
European Tour victories: 6
Ryder Cup record: 0-2-0 (2016)

Lee Westwood, England

Age: 48
World ranking: 35
US PGA Tour victories: 2
European Tour victories: 25
Ryder Cup record: 20-18-6 (2016, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 1999, 1997)

Tommy Fleetwood, England

Age: 30
World ranking: 37
European Tour victories: 5
Ryder Cup record: 4-1-0 (2018)

Shane Lowry, Ireland

Age: 34
World ranking: 42
US PGA Tour victories: 2
European Tour victories: 5
Major championship titles: 1 (2019 Open Championship)
Ryder Cup rookie

Sergio Garcia, Spain

Age: 41
World ranking: 43
US PGA Tour victories: 11
European Tour victories: 16
Major championship titles: 1 (2017 Masters)
Ryder Cup record: 22-12-7 (2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 1999)
- Garcia's 25.5 points are the most all-time for Europe

Ian Poulter, England

Age: 45
World ranking: 50
US PGA Tour victories: 3
European Tour victories: 12
Ryder Cup record: 14-6-2 (2018, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2004)
- Unbeaten in singles with a record of 5-0-1

Bernd Wiesberger, Austria

Age: 35
World ranking: 63
European Tour victories: 8
Ryder Cup rookie

PODCAST PREVIEW

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UNITED STATES TEAM IN BRIEF

Dustin Johnson

Age: 37
World ranking: 2
US PGA Tour victories: 24
European Tour victories: 2
Major championship titles: 2 (2016 US Open, 2020 Masters)
Ryder Cup record: 7-9-0 (2018, 2016, 2012, 2010)

Collin Morikawa

Age: 24
World ranking: 3
US PGA Tour victories: 5
Major championship titles: 2 (2020 PGA Championship, 2021 Open Championship)
Ryder Cup rookie

Patrick Cantlay

Age: 29
World ranking: 4
US PGA Tour victories: 6 (2021 FedEx Cup champion)
Ryder Cup rookie

Xander Schauffele

Age: 27
World ranking: 5
US PGA Tour victories: 4
International victories: 1 (2021 Olympic gold)
Ryder Cup rookie

Justin Thomas

Age: 28
World ranking: 6
US PGA Tour victories: 14
Major championship titles: 1 (2017 PGA Championship)
Ryder Cup record: 4-1-0 (2018)

Bryson DeChambeau

Age: 27
World ranking: 7
US PGA Tour victories: 8
European Tour victories: 1
Major championship titles: 1 (2020 US Open)
Ryder Cup record: 0-3-0 (2018)

Tony Finau

Age: 31
World ranking: 9
US PGA Tour victories: 2
Ryder Cup record: 2-1-0 (2018)

Brooks Koepka

Age: 31
World ranking: 10
US PGA Tour victories: 8
European Tour victories: 1
Major championship titles: 4 (2017, 2018 US Open; 2018, 2019 PGA Championship)
Ryder Cup record: 4-3-1 (2018, 2016)

Harris English

Age: 32
World ranking: 11
US PGA Tour victories: 4
Ryder Cup rookie

Jordan Spieth

Age: 28
World ranking: 13
US PGA Tour victories: 12
Major championship titles: 3 (2015 Masters, 2015 US Open, 2017 Open Championship)
Ryder Cup record: 7-5-2 (2018, 2016, 2014)

Daniel Berger

Age: 28
World ranking: 16
US PGA Tour victories: 4
Ryder Cup rookie

Scottie Scheffler

Age: 25
World ranking: 21
US PGA Tour victories: 0
Ryder Cup rookie

FIVE RYDER CUP HOLES TO WATCH

Whistling Straits is the cure for your average parkland venue, which fades into the background as a pleasant but unobtrusive platform for players’ talents. This golf course demands to be noticed. Designed by Pete Dye, the Straits is all about angles. Fairways are offset in ways that constantly force players to choose a very specific line and commit to it before swinging away. Dye sunk several back tees as low as possible, knowing that pros despise semi-blind shots.

Here are five holes, promising to capture all our attention as well as that of the golfers:

FOURTH

Par-4, 489 yards: Large mounds down the left side might entice players to favor the left side, but shots in that direction face bunkers and dunes and a drop off to Lake Michigan. The fairway tumbles left out of view right where most shots would land. The windy hole along the shore teases you with sightlines to grass when the better play often requires aiming elsewhere. It's a mid-iron or long-iron into a slightly elevated green hanging on the edge of a bluff. Par could win the hole.

THIRTEENTH

Par-4 404 yards: Fairway slopes left to right and downhill for the final 125 yards, so a downwind blast off the tee could reach the green and US captain Steve Stricker could shift the tee location to make it more possible. Trailing teams might take a chance here. The safer play is left to set up a short approach into a narrow green on a cliff above Lake Michigan, with anything right lost to the steep blufs above the water.

FOURTEENTH

Par-4, 396 yards: Severe dogleg left. The brave could avoid the bunkers and try a 315-yard blast to somewhere near the green, but it would likely take a Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson or Rory McIlroy to pull it off. Stricker could move up tee area to make the risk-reward more enticing. The far right side offers deep fescue. The shortcut left has a huge bunker to try and clear. The undulating green offers no likely escape for those who miss it and a back left drop off. Could see major moves here even if all play it safe.

SIXTEENTH

Par-5, 569 yards: The shortest par-5 hole could be reachable in two if one is willing to risk driver off the tee. But the fairway is pinched by a long drop-off to Lake Michigan to the left and bunkers to the right. There's a forced carry over dunes and bunkers to reach the green in two with a bail out right. That leaves a short wedge to an elevated green with sky and water awaiting the errant long blast.

SEVENTEENTH

Par-3, 223 yards: If a match gets this far, players get a green on the edge of a cliff above the lake. Misses left get huge bunkers and sand dunes 20 feet below. If plyers go right they must clear 40 yards of sand dune and face a hillside full of bunkers. Great view. Great challenge.