Ryder Cup: player-by-player guide

EUROPE: Paul Casey: King of cheek — in both senses. His chipmunk nut pouches go with his view of Americans as ‘uncultured idiots’ Photograph: Morry Gash/AP

Sergio García: Hates being called ‘El Niño’ but it must be preferable to America’s crueler nickname for him, ‘Sunday choker’ Photograph: John Super/AP

Soren Hansen: Good if dull Dane, so anonymous the ‘official’ Ryder Cup picture of him was actually of Hunter Mahan. Likes to fly kites Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action images

Padraig Harrington: Europe’s best has an endearing ‘Aw, shucks’ goofy grin and a son that likes to cram insects into his father’s trophies Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty

Miguel Angel Jiménez: Curly hair and musketeer beard trumpet a unique style — he’s just a red nose away from looking like Charlie Cairoli Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action images

Robert Karlsson: Eats porridge made from wheat shoots cultivated in his hotel bathroom. No wonder he once fasted for two weeks Photograph: Jeff Gross/Getty

Graeme McDowell: Member of the wacky trouser brigade who refers to himself as G-Mac. Known to everyone else as ‘Who’ Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty

Ian Poulter: World No2 in his own mind and ‘golf punk’, a paradoxical term on a par with ‘Athenaeum Club anarchist’ Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty

Justin Rose: Tends to nod off during breathing exercises which is what everyone else does during his press conferences Photograph: Brandon Malone/Action images

Henrik Stenson: Prankster with pub-bore ability to recite Python scripts and has Faldo’s former ‘funny Fanny’ Sunesson as his caddie Photograph: Steve Mitchell/AP

Lee Westwood: Placid banana addict who has shed his once magnificent embonpoint that made him Monty’s only rival for XXXXL kit Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty

Oliver Wilson: Rebecca Adlington put his home town Mansfield on the map. Expect a call for Jimmy Choo golf spikes if Europe win Photograph: Paul Childs/Action images

UNITED STATES: Chad Campbell: Hates vegetables and subsists on steak and burritos which has given him the look of a young Oliver Hardy Photograph: Jamie Squire/Getty

Stewart Cink: Kirk-Douglas dimpled barbecued food evangelist who has overcome the yips. Loves Christian hip-hop Photograph: Jack Dempsey/AP

Ben Curtis: Wins ‘get a life’ award by habit of sneaking on to a course at night in pyjamas at the age of five to practice Photograph: Mark Duncan/AP

Jim Furyk: Has the swing of ‘a one-man game of Twister’. Usually carries more adverts on his shirt than a newsagent’s window Photograph: Stuart Franklin/Getty

JB Holmes: Prefers JB to John Holmes because of the name’s porn star past. Drives it long and people mad with slow play Photograph: Stephen Dunn/Getty

Anthony Kim: Korean American seen as the potential ‘new Tiger’ but with a serial addiction to shedding caddies and coaches Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty

Justin Leonard: Hasn’t played since the US’s last win. Identikit US pro cast as a talisman despite never winning a Ryder Cup match Photograph: Steve Holland/AP

Phil Mickelson: Massages from a former Green Beret have toned the lard up to such an extent it moves Hazel Irvine to coyish giggles Photograph: Brandon Malone/Action images

Kenny Perry: Tubby Kentucky veteran. His father says Perry has ‘never smoked, drunk alcohol or said a bad word’. Party on, dude Photograph: David J Phillip/AP

Hunter Mahan: Buttoned lip since claiming Ryder Cup dinner circuit was akin to slavery. Don’t shout ‘Soup or salmon?’ at him Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty

Steve Stricker: Comeback kid after losing his Tour card in 2005. Had to fire his wife as caddie ‘to save the marriage’ Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty

Boo Weekley: Prefers hunting and fishing to his profession — like Jack Charlton with whom he shares an impenetrable accent Photograph: Travis Lindquist/Getty