Golfweek

United States (Captain: George “Buddy” Marucci)

• • •

Bud Cauley

Age: 19

Home: Jacksonville, Fla.

Golfweek ranking: T-13

Comment: Solid iron play will be a big boost, especially in foursomes

• • •

Rickie Fowler

Age: 20

Home: Murrieta, Calif.

Golfweek ranking: 1

Comment: Wants to end amateur career with another Walker Cup victory (member of winning team in ’07)

• • •

Brendan Gielow

Age: 21

Home: Muskegon, Mich.

Golfweek ranking: T-10

Comment: Excellent short game should be big plus around Merion’s demanding greens

• • •

Brian Harman

Age: 22

Home: Savannah, Ga.

Golfweek ranking: 19

Comment: Probably the toughest and most successful match-play member of team (member of ’05 winning side)

• • •

Morgan Hoffmann

Age: 20

Home: Saddle Brook, N.J.

Golfweek ranking: T-45

Comment: He’s young, but won’t be intimidated by anyone

• • •

Adam Mitchell

Age: 22

Home: Chattanooga, Tenn.

Golfweek ranking: T-39

Comment: Semifinalist at ’08 U.S. Amateur has game to compete in match play

• • •

Nathan Smith

Age: 31

Home: Pittsburgh

Golfweek ranking: T-30

Comment: Pennsylvania native brings a lot of Merion course knowledge to the table

• • •

Cameron Tringale

Age: 22

Home: Laguna Niguel, Calif.

Golfweek ranking: T-35

Comment: 2009 U.S. Open qualifier was 3-0-1 at this year’s Palmer Cup

• • •

Peter Uihlein

Age: 20

Home: Orlando, Fla.

Golfweek ranking: 6

Comment: U.S. Amateur quarterfinalist another young gun with experience beyond his years

• • •

Drew Weaver

Age: 22

Home: High Point, N.C.

Golfweek ranking: T-13

Comment: The bigger the stage, the better the ’07 British Amateur champion performs

• • •

GB&I (Captain: Colin Dalgleish)

• • •

Wallace Booth

Age: 24

Home: Crieff, Scotland

Golfweek ranking: T-48

Comment: Has had mixed season; part of Scotland’s ’08 victorious Eisenhower Trophy squad

• • •

Gavin Dear

Age: 25

Home: Scone, Scotland

Golfweek ranking: T-21

Comment: Strong, seasoned player has an unflappable nature, which should help him handle the pressure

• • •

Tommy Fleetwood

Age: 18

Home: Southport, England

Golfweek ranking: T-30

Comment: British Amateur runner-up (’08) and quarterfinalist (’09) excels at match play

• • •

Luke Goddard

Age: 21

Home: Barnet, England

Golfweek ranking: 3

Comment: Works hard on his short game, so should be able to handle Merion’s greens

• • •

Matt Haines

Age: 19

Home: Chatham, England

Golfweek ranking: T-13

Comment: Won 2008 Lytham Trophy title; started ‘09 with three consecutive victories

• • •

Stiggy Hodgson

Age: 19

Home: Sunninghill, England

Golfweek ranking: T-21

Comment: Player with a street fighter/bulldog attitude who hates to lose

• • •

Sam Hutsby

Age: 20

Home: Portsmouth, England

Golfweek ranking: 4

Comment: Has good, solid game and stays composed on the course, a la Luke Donald

• • •

Niall Kearney

Age: 21

Home: Dublin, Ireland

Golfweek ranking: 55

Comment: Had brief stint at East Tennessee State; won the ’09 Brabazon Trophy

• • •

Chris Paisley

Age: 23

Home: Stocksfield, England

Golfweek ranking: T-193

Comment: Well-known to U.S. players, as he was Tennessee’s No. 1 player last season

• • •

Dale Whitnell

Age: 21

Home: Colchester, England

Golfweek ranking: T-8

Comment: This year’s Portuguese Amateur and Tillman Trophy champion isn’t short on confidence

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Walker Cup facts

Who: U.S. vs. Great Britain and Ireland (biennial matches of 10-man amateur teams)

When: Sept. 12-13

Where: Merion Golf Club’s East Course (par 70, 6,887 yards), Ardmore, Pa.

Format: Friday morning, 4 foursomes matches; afternoon, 8 singles matches; Saturday morning, 4 foursomes matches; afternoon, 10 singles matches

2007: U.S. won, 12 1⁄2-11 1⁄2

Series: U.S. leads, 33-7-1

TV: Golf Channel, Saturday-Sunday (4-6 p.m.)