Rory McIlroy

Age: 23
From: Northern Ireland

World No 1, reigning US PGA Champion and the youngest European ever to win a Major (when he won the 2011 US Open), Rory made his Ryder Cup debut as part of the victorious European team at Celtic Manor two years ago. Having initially dismissed the tournament as “an exhibition”, the experience changed his take on participating, and he commented afterwards: ““I don’t want to miss a Ryder Cup for the next 20 years. I realise now what the Ryder Cup means and what it means to everyone. It’s the best exhibition in the world!” He goes into the tournament having been labeled as “the present-day Tiger Woods with everyone’s eyes on him”, according to US golfer Jim Furyk. McIlroy - known as ‘Wee Mac’ as a nod to his older friend Graeme ‘GMac’ McDowell - is a UNICEF ambassador.