Thursday 7 November 2019 13:11, UK
Team Europe have dominated the Ryder Cup since Tony Jacklin engineered a landmark victory in 1985 which changed the whole complexion of the contest. Here, we look at the 12 players who would make up a dream team from the past 30 years ...
SIR NICK FALDO
After making a big impression on the European Tour in his rookie season, Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup career also began in superb style as he was undefeated on debut in 1977, beating Tom Watson in his singles at Royal Lytham.
Britain's most successful golfer went on to make a record 11 appearances, and his haul of 25 points is another record which could be under threat from Lee Westwood this week.
Faldo formed some formidable partnerships with the likes of Peter Oosterhuis, Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie as the Europeans began to dominate the competition.
Perhaps his finest Ryder Cup moment was his crucial last-hole win over Curtis Strange in 1995, but he failed to shine as captain in 2008 as Paul Azinger led the United States to a convincing victory at Valhalla.
SEVE BALLESTEROS
After coming so close to dethroning the Americans at PGA National in 1983, Seve Ballesteros delivered a rousing speech in the European dressing room and convinced his team-mates this was the start of something big.
And at the very next contest, the dashing Spaniard led Tony Jacklin's team to a memorable victory at the Belfry, claiming three-and-a-half points out of five and etching his name into Ryder Cup folklore with his unforgettable exploits at the 10th, where he made a huge statement by driving the green to set up a winning birdie.
He then formed the strongest partnership in the history of the event with his compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal as Europe held on to the Cup until it was snatched away in dramatic circumstances in 1991.
His swashbuckling style revived European interest in the event and his influence was evident in 1997 as he captained Europe to victory at Valderrama, while his spirit also inspired the Miracle at Medinah two years ago.
COLIN MONTGOMERIE
For a man that never quite managed to win a major tournament until joining the senior ranks, Colin Montgomerie's record in the Ryder Cup is sensational.
The Scot won 20 of his 36 matches and halved a further seven, and he remained unbeaten in eight singles contests as he took over from Seve Ballesteros and Nick Faldo as the lynchpin of the European team.
Monty sealed the match-winning point in the 1997 and 2004 contests, but he proved just as influential at the top of the singles order in both 2002 and 2006 as he finished just one-and-a-half points shy of Nick Faldo's record points haul.
It was also fitting that Montgomerie enjoyed further success as a captain, leading Europe to a thrilling one-point victory at Celtic Manor in 2010 to further enhance his status as a genuine Ryder Cup legend.
JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL
A stalwart of European golf since his Ryder Cup debut in 1987, Jose Maria Olazabal's electrifying partnership with Seve Ballesteros is the most successful in history and unlikely to be matched in the future.
The Spanish pair tasted defeat only twice in 15 matches, but Olazabal's career appeared to be over in the mid-nineties when he was struck down with a debilitating back ailment.
But he battled his way back to fitness to help Seve's side to victory at Valderrama in 1997, and he won all of his three matches in Europe's thumping win at the K Club in 2006.
That was the last of Olazabal's appearances as a player, and his stint as captain two years ago looked to be heading for defeat until his players staged their miraculous final-day fightback at Medinah - a fitting tribute to his late friend Seve.
SERGIO GARCIA
A charismatic teenager announced himself to the golfing world when he pushed Tiger Woods all the way on the final day of the PGA Championship at Medinah in 1999, a tournament in which he produced "that" shot from behind a tree.
A month later, Sergio Garcia became the youngest player in Ryder Cup history in the Battle of Brookline, where he was unbeaten in foursomes and fourballs with Jesper Parnevik, and he - like Montgomerie - brushed aside a succession of near misses in the majors and lifted himself for the Ryder Cup.
Garcia won 14 of 20 his matches - eight out of eight in foursomes - before a slump in form cost him his place in the 2010 line-up. But after rediscovering his love of the game, Garcia returned to the side in 2012 and partnered Luke Donald to a crucial fourball victory late on Saturday before edging out Jim Furyk on the final hole in Europe's memorable win at Medinah.
He also enjoyed further success alongside Rory McIlroy at Gleneagles, bouncing back from defeat in the opening session with a win and a half before repeating his final-hole win over Furyk in Sunday's singles.
BERNHARD LANGER
Despite going through no fewer than 12 different partners in his 10 Ryder Cup appearances, Bernhard Langer was often a first-choice partner for the rest of every team he played in.
The reliable German won half of his 42 matches and halved a further six - which included his infamous tie with Hale Irwin at Kiawah Island in 1991, where Langer's six-foot putt to retain the trophy for Europe slipped agonisingly wide of the hole.
The pain of that heartbreaking miss would have broken many a player but, such is Langer's resolve, he returned to his homeland the following week and won the German Masters - ironically holding his nerve to beat Rodger Davis in a play-off.
Langer continued to be a pivotal member of three further winning European Ryder Cup teams, making his final appearance as a player in 2002, before proving an astute and popular captain in the record-breaking nine-point victory in Detroit in 2004.
LEE WESTWOOD
An inspired choice by Seve Ballesteros as Nick Faldo's partner on his debut in the Valderrama rain in 1997, Lee Westwood has been a consistent Ryder Cup performer ever since.
The Englishman played in every session during in his first five appearances, even when going into the 2002 contest woefully short of his best form before finding his game alongside Sergio Garcia at the Belfry.
Westwood's partnerships with Garcia and close-friend Darren Clarke earned him 10 victories, and he put together a superb 12-match unbeaten run which ended on the second day of the ill-fated 2008 contest at Valhalla.
He returned to winning ways at Celtic Manor in 2010, his only defeat coming against Steve Stricker in a high-quality singles, and he contributed a vital win over an in-form Matt Kuchar on that memorable final day at Medinah.
Westwood proved an astute captain's pick from Paul McGinley two years ago and partnered rookie Jamie Donaldson to two wins out of three, taking his overall Ryder Cup points tally to 23 - just two adrift of Faldo's all-time record.
DARREN CLARKE
In his second appearance in 1999, Darren Clarke formed a strong and reliable Ryder Cup partnership with Lee Westwood that has been compared with the formidable Spanish duo of Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal.
The popular Ulsterman won six of his eight matches alongside his closest friend, but he managed only one victory in his five singles contests - although he did contribute excellent halves against David Duval in 2002 and Davis Love two years later.
But his finest performance was on home soil amid highly-emotional scenes in 2006 at the K Club, where he was awarded a wild card by captain Ian Woosnam just six weeks after his wife Heather lost her battle with cancer.
The deafening ovation that he received on the first tee in the opening session, will live long in the memory, as will the tears that flowed after he finally broke his singles drought against Zach Johnson in what proved to be his last appearance as a player.
Clarke was an obvious choice to succeed Paul McGinley as captain at Hazeltine National, and his popularity in the US as well as his close friendship with opposite number Davis Love III should ensure the week will end with sporting relations intact.
IAN WOOSNAM
Always regarded as an awesome "team man" for Europe, Ian Woosnam's reputation was justified by his formidable record in fourballs matches with a record 10 wins, one half and only three losses.
But it remains a mystery why the former world No 1 never quite managed to win any of his singles matches in eight attempts, although it can be argued that he seemed to draw the form player in every contest while also enduring more than his fair share of misfortune.
After final-hole defeats to Andy Bean in 1987 and Curtis Strange in 1989, the diminutive Welshman was drawn against Fred Couples in each of the next three editions - the first two being halved before Couples romped to a thumping 8&7 win in Woosnam's final playing appearance at Valderrama.
Woosie also demonstrated his impressive leadership qualities at the K Club in 2006, taking the brave decision to pick Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood as his wild cards before guiding Europe to a second-consecutive record nine-point triumph.
IAN POULTER
After making a relatively quiet Ryder Cup debut when Europe cruised to victory in 2004, Ian Poulter has certainly made plenty of noise in the last three contests.
Nick Faldo's decision to name Poulter as one of his captain's picks in 2008 was greeted with surprise in many circles, but he proved an inspired choice as he won four of his five matches at Valhalla.
Poulter continued to thrive in the competition at Celtic Manor in 2010, again bouncing back from defeat in the opening session to win his next three, but it was his truly inspirational performance at Medinah two years later that propelled him to Dream Team status.
Europe trailed 10-4 late on the second day when he birdied last five holes to earn a crucial fourballs point with Rory McIlroy which effectively ignited the spectacular comeback on the final day, when he played his part with a tight victory over US Open champion Webb Simpson.
Poulter could not match those heights at Gleneagles two years ago as he contributed just two halved matches to Europe's third straight win, and injury ruled him out of contention for Hazeltine, although he will be an inspirational figure in the team room as one of Darren Clarke's vice-captains.
SAM TORRANCE
Whenever the topic of conversation turns to the Ryder Cup, the name Sam Torrance is certain to be involved. He was a regular fixture in the European team in eight contests from his debut in 1981 to the memorable victory at Oak Hill in 1995.
The proud and popular Scot is fondly remembered for raising his arms aloft and shedding a tear or two after holing the winning putt at the Belfry in 1985 - a victory which ignited a long period of European domination.
Torrance also secured a crucial half against Larry Mize during Europe's historic first win on American soil in 1987, and his win over Loren Roberts in the 1995 triumph was one of his best displays in his last appearance as a player.
After being "disgusted" by the behavior of the Americans at the Battle of Brookline in 1999, he then proved his admirable leadership qualities in 2002 as he out-thought his counterpart Curtis Strange and led Europe to a stunning win back at his beloved Belfry.
Torrance was a "go-too" man for the players behind the scenes as he assisted Paul McGinley at Gleneagles two years ago, a role he will take on again this week at Hazeltine National.
LUKE DONALD
He may have made only four Ryder Cup appearances, but Luke Donald earns his Dream Team place through his admirable record in matchplay competition - particularly in foursomes.
The smooth-swinging English ace partnered close-friend Sergio Garcia to a perfect four wins out of four in foursomes play in the 2004 and 2006 competitions, but a serious wrist injury ruled him out of the next edition at Valhalla.
His solid iron game and sublime touch on and around the greens proved invaluable as he returned to the side in 2010 - teaming up with Lee Westwood for a 6&5 drubbing of Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker before holding off Jim Furyk in a pivotal early singles match.
Woods and Stricker were the victims again late on the second day in Medinah as Donald and Garcia snatched victory in the final fourballs match, and he led from the front in the singles - beating Bubba Watson to put the first blue point on the board and begin Europe's stunning fightback.
Donald has struggled with consistency since and was overlooked for a wildcard pick for both Gleneagles and Hazeltine, but don't rule him out of making a comeback in Paris in 2018 as he looks to build on his awesome record of 10 wins from 15 matches.
CAPTAIN: TONY JACKLIN
"When I think of the Ryder Cup I come over all unnecessary," said Tony Jacklin - the ideal choice to lead a Ryder Cup dream team having led them to victory on two occasions and playing a major role in reviving Europe's interest in the competition.
Jacklin took over as skipper in 1983 and rejuvenated the fortunes of the European team, although he was denied a historic victory over counterpart and good friend Jack Nicklaus by just a single point in a thrilling finish at PGA National in Florida.
But the two-time major champion had to wait only another two years to wrestle the famous gold trophy out of American hands, inspiring Europe to victory at the Belfry in 1985 before overseeing their landmark first win on American soil against Nicklaus in his own backyard.
Jacklin was persuaded to lead the side once more in 1989 - which resulted in only the second tie in Ryder Cup history - and his tactical genius and man management became the blueprint for his successors in recent years.
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