United States: statistics and profiles for the away side at Royal Melbourne

United States

Management
Tiger Woods – Playing captain
Fred Couples – Vice-captain
Zach Johnson – Vice-captain
Steve Stricker – Vice-captain

Players (age, world ranking, previous Presidents Cup appearances, matches, W-L-H record)

Justin Thomas – 26, 4, 1, 5, 3-1-1

The former world number one has won two PGA Tour titles in the last four months and finished fifth in the Hero on Saturday. He won four points on a losing Ryder Cup team last year. The most likely sidekick for regular practice partner Tiger Woods.

Dustin Johnson – 35, 5, 3, 14, 8-4-2

He has not played since finishing last in the Tour Championship in August, followed by knee surgery. Johnson won 1.5 points from five matches in 2011 as a rookie, but will probably be used sparingly this time.

Patrick Cantlay – 27, 7, rookie

The Californian is one of five American rookies – and one of the three who has never represented the USA in the Ryder Cup either. The likely partner for his good friend Patrick Reed.

Xander Schauffele – 26, 9, rookie

The Californian, runner-up in the Tour Championship in August and again in the WGC-HSBC last month, is another high-class rookie who Woods can trust. USA debut.

Webb Simpson – 34, 11, 2, 10, 5-3-2

The former US Open champion claimed three points from five matches at Royal Melbourne in 2011 as a rookie. He has finished in the top 30 in his last 15 events, so should be a key man for the USA.

Matt Kuchar – 41, 24, 4, 16, 6-8-2

The steady Floridian won 1.5 points from five matches at Royal Melbourne in 2011 as a rookie, and is one of only four USA players with Cup experience at the track.

Bryson DeChambeau – 26, 13, rookie

The five-time PGA Tour champion made his Ryder Cup debut last year and lost all three of his matches. He improved his score each day in the Hero last week after a terrible start.

Tony Finau – 30, 16, rookie

The powerhouse, like DeChambeau, is a Presidents Cup rookie with Ryder Cup experience. Finau won two points from three matches in Paris, thrashing Tommy Fleetwood in the singles.

Gary Woodland – 35, 17, rookie

The 2011 World Cup, which he won alongside Matt Kuchar, is the only time Woodland has represented the USA. The US Open champion dropped from first to seventh in the Hero final round last week.

Patrick Reed – 29, 12, 2, 9, 4-3-2

Captain America has a strong record in team events for his country, but he arrived in Melbourne fresh from accusations of cheating in the Hero, where he was penalised two shots for improving his lie. The crowd could get on his back, adding to the tension in likely rookie partner Cantlay.

Tiger Woods – 43, 6, 8, 40, 24-15-1

The legend made his Presidents Cup debut at Royal Melbourne as a 22-year-old in 1998, winning two points from five matches, repeating that yield there in 2011. Form figures of 1-4 this season, but player-captain role is difficult.

Rickie Fowler – 30, 22, 2, 8, 4-3-1

The Californian got a late call-up when Brooks Koepka conceded that his knee problems would not clear up in time for the Cup. Fowler returned from more than three months on the sidelines to finish ninth in the Hero last week.

NB: players are in order of Presidents Cup qualifying points lists, with captains' picks at the bottom

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