Nick Westby: Surprises likely as Europe’s best jockey for position at Gleneagles

A dozen men, inspired by the spirit of the late Seve Ballesteros, launched the most improbable fightback in Ryder Cup history, storming back from a four-point deficit to deny the United States on home soil and win a fourth match out of five this century.

The Miracle at Medinah will go down in the annals as one of the finest hours in European golf. The one-year anniversary also marks the mid-point in the Ryder Cup cycle, with Team Europe and Team USA set to renew the biggest rivalry in the sport at Gleneagles from September 26-28.

The starting gun on the qualification race was fired a month ago and the race is on to make Paul McGinley’s team.

So what better time to try and name my 12-man European team for the 2014 Ryder Cup.

Like anyone, I would want the dozen best Europeans at my disposal to tackle Tom Watson’s US team, but teams are not built that way so I am naming my team here based on the parameters in which McGinley will work.

The continental team next year will be made up of the leading four players on the European points list, followed by the leading five golfers on the world points list, not already qualified.

McGinley will then make three wild card picks, an increase from the two that Jose Maria Olazabal had in 2012, the Irishman having reduced the number of qualifiers from the European list by one.

By doing that, McGinley has prioritised players who play predominently on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, but he has opened his team up to more players who primarily ply their trade on the US PGA Tour, a group that includes all four Englishmen who are likely to be in the mix; Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald, and both Irishmen, Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

One place already appears to be sewn up on the world points list by Henrik Stenson, who since the start of the qualifying process a month ago has won two FedEx Cup tournaments and has earned around 80 per cent of the points he is likely to need to qualify.

So some big names who shun the European events will be relying on McGinley’s favour.

Equally, the home team will consist of a couple of players you might not have thought they would be anywhere near the reckoning, but have qualified by virtue of an exceptional year on the European Tour.

So here goes then, my 12 for Europe, and the reasons why.

European points list

Justin Rose: A big name player always garners enough points in the majors and World Golf Championships that count towards both lists to ensure he qualifies via the European points list. Rory McIlroy topped both standings a year ago, and expect Rose to do so next year. Despite Stenson’s world-beating summer, Rose has had a breakthrough year with his first major and shows all the signs of going from strength to strength.

Nicolas Colsaerts: Olazabal’s surprise wild card in 2012, the Belgian revelled in the matchplay environment. More of a global player these days but plays enough tournaments in Europe to qualify via that route. If there’s anything missing, it’s his ability to win strokeplay events which is how the big points are accumulated, but he is very consistent.

Matteo Manassero: For the last few years it has only been a matter of time before this young Italian forces his way into the Ryder Cup team and this will be the year. Since the age of 17 he has won a tournament a year on the European Tour. This tenacious competitor plays in the Seve Trophy next week which will give him valuable team experience under the watchful gaze of McGinley.

Joost Luiten: The real surprise name is this 27-year-old Dutchman who has won three times on the European Tour, twice this year. His victory at the recent KLM Open got him off to a flying start in the qualification race. Luiten is very highly thought of at his management company ISM, and like Manassero, has the opportunity to prove his credentials at the Seve Trophy.

World points list

Henrik Stenson: The Swede almost has selection sewn up already and his return to form is not before time. As he has proven this summer, and as he showed in two previous Ryder Cup appearances, he is a great asset for a European team.

Rory McIlroy: Has endured the worst year of his career but once he returns to form he has the potential to be the best player in the world. Form is temporary, class is permanent.

Luke Donald: Not the player he was two years ago but like McIlroy, you get the feeling he won’t be down for long. A superb foursomes player as well.

Lee Westwood: Major collapses and the fact that he will be 41 aside, the Worksop man is someone you would always want in your team. Leads from the front and always one of the captain’s trusted lieutenants.

Sergio Garcia: Back in form over the last two years and back doing what he does best, getting under people’s skin, whether that be foolish comments at a ceremony or at a Ryder Cup.

Wild cards

Ian Poulter: Although McGinley said last week if he’s out of form he won’t be picked, if there is any semblance of the man who resuscitated Europe on day two at Medinah and then led the victory charge on the Sunday, Poulter has to be involved. Hasn’t recently played well enough to qualify by rights, but the Ryder Cup brings out the best in Poulter.

Graeme McDowell: Could easily qualify via the world points list, but if not, he has to go. Like Poulter, he is one of Europe’s best competitors and sank the winning putt at Celtic Manor two years ago. Like all the big players, he lives for the big occasion.

Martin Kaymer: Nervelessly drained the putt that retained the Cup at Medinah, and although he is not the force he once was, the German is still one of the best global players Europe has at its disposal.

and another thing...

So that’s Team Europe, what about my Team USA, USA, USA as the chant goes?

Tom Watson said last week that the purest form of a Ryder Cup would see the 12 best players on the points list qualifying by rights, with no need for a captain’s pick.

But where’s the drama, and the appeal for television cameras and newspaper executives in that?

So Watson, who returns to the hotseat 21 years after leading the US to victory at the Belfry, has three picks to add to the nine who qualify by rights on the points list.

The United States’ qualifying year is shorter than Europe’s, starting on October 10 and finishing three weeks earlier at the US PGA Championship on August 10.

On top of that, points are accumulated based on performances at the 2013 major championships, meaning Open winner Phil Mickelson and PGA champion Jason Dufner are already in a strong position.

So here’s the 12 men who I think Team USA will rely on to try and win back the Cup at Gleaneagles.

Qualifiers: Tiger Woods, Mickelson, Dufner, Brandt Snedeker, Matt Kuchar, Keegan Bradley, Hunter Mahan, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Speith.

Wild cards: Zach Johnson, Steve Stricker, Rickie Fowler.