Bjorn confirms European Ryder Cup team

European Captain Thomas Bjørn has selected Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson to complete his 12-player team for The 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National, France later this month.

Casey, Garcia, Poulter and Stenson have a wealth of experience in the biennial contest with a combined total of 20 previous Ryder Cup appearances.

Garcia and Stenson are both major winners and will feature in the Ryder Cup for the ninth time and fifth time respectively, with Garcia only three points away from becoming Europe’s leading all-time points scorer.   

Englishman Poulter has played a key role in four wins from his five previous appearances, including the streak of three consecutive European victories in 2010, 2012 and 2014, while his compatriot Casey returns to the Ryder Cup arena after an absence of ten years. 

The four captain’s picks join Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Rory McIlroy, Francesco Molinari, Alex Noren, Thorbjørn Olesen, Jon Rahm and Justin Rose in Bjørn’s side to take on Jim Furyk’s United States team as Europe seeks to regain The Ryder Cup in Paris from September 28-30, 2018. 

Bjørn said: “These four were desperate to be part of The Ryder Cup and as soon as they got the call, their minds went straight to, ‘right, we’ve got to achieve something in Paris’.

“I always say there are players who want to be in The Ryder Cup team, and there are players who want to play in The Ryder Cup. These four players want to play in the Ryder Cup. They want to be on the golf course and win points. 

“It makes me very happy to see this group of 12. I believe that together we can do great things. 

“We know what we are up against. We know what America brings, but I'm confident that this is the group of guys that can do the job.”

Jim Furyk has assembled one of the most competitive American teams in recent years after selecting Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods as additions to his U.S. team.

Woods, 42, has made a remarkable return from injury and is heading to Paris to play in his first Ryder Cup since 2012 and his eighth Ryder Cup overall.

Mickelson will play in a record 12th Ryder Cup having made his debut in 1995, while DeChambeau will represent the United States in the competition for the very first time after attending the match at Hazeltine two years ago as a spectator.

US Open and US PGA Championship champion Brooks Koepka, Masters winner Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson had all qualified automatically.

Furyk will make his final wildcard pick for the U.S. Ryder Cup team on Monday.

“I still want someone that's had a good body of work, someone that's playing well right now, but definitely that person has to fit,” said Furyk. “We have a very good idea now with 11 players of pairings, and that player is going to fit nicely into a spot to make things work.”