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As winners of five of the last six Ryder Cups, the European squad at the 2012 Ryder Cup will once again be a formidable foe for the United States. But now that the cup is back on American soil the Europeans will have to battle a deep U.S. team with home field advantage at Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago.
Captain José María Olazabál's team is solid from top to bottom, including four of the top five golfers in the world in Rory McIlory, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Justin Rose. Graeme McDowell returns after clinching victory for Europe in 2010 at Celtic Manor, while Sergio Garcia made the grade this year after being left off the team during the 2010 cup. Nicolas Colsaerts is the lone rookie for the Europeans this year.
Here is the complete European team:
- Nicolas Colsaerts
- Luke Donald
- Sergio Garcia
- Peter Hanson
- Martin Kaymer
- Paul Lawrie
- Graeme McDowell
- Rory McIlory
- Francesco Molinari
- Ian Poulter
- Justin Rose
- Lee Westwood
The 2012 Ryder Cup gets underway Friday morning with the start of foursome action at Medinah.