Ryder Cup 2014: Europe's Ryder Cup team in profile

European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has finalised his team to face the United States at Gleneagles from 26 September.

McGinley chose English duo Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, and Scot Stephen Gallacher as his wildcard selections to join the nine players who qualified automatically.

In all, nine nationalities and three debutants are included in the team which will bid for Europe's third successive Ryder Cup victory.

*All rankings and ages correct as of Tuesday, 2 September.

Automatic qualifiers (via European points list)

Rory McIlroy

The hottest player on the planet with three straight wins this summer including two majors in the form of the Open and US PGA, Northern Ireland's McIlroy is now a four-time major winner.

Henrik Stenson

The Swede missed out two years ago at Medinah but hit back to top the 2013 European rankings and US PGA Tour end of season play-offs. In 2014 he was placed fourth in the US Open and third in the US PGA Championship.

Victor Dubuisson

The Frenchman won his maiden European Tour title in 2013 at the Turkish Open and has added two second places this year.

Jamie Donaldson

Donaldson wins a first Ryder Cup cap for Wales since Phillip Price in 2002 at the Belfry. His win at the Czech Masters in August was his third European Tour win in as many years.

Qualified automatically via World points list

Sergio Garcia

Spain's Ryder Cup veteran and the team's vice-captain in 2010 has been one of the form players of 2014. He took victory at the Qatar Masters in January and tied for second at this year's Open Championship at Hoylake.

Justin Rose

England's 2013 US Open champion won twice in two weeks this year, on the PGA Tour's Quickens Loans National in June and on the European Tour's Scottish Open in July. He is a key European asset.

Martin Kaymer

The German sank the winning putt in 2012 and goes to Gleneagles as the Players Championship holder and US Open champion.

Thomas Bjorn

The resurgent Dane returns to the European team for the first time since 2002 after vice-captain stints in 2010 and 2012. He is a 15-time winner on the European Tour.

Graeme McDowell

Northern Ireland's hero of the 2010 Ryder Cup won the French Open in July and hung on to the final automatic qualifying spot in the team.

Wildcard picks

Ian Poulter

England's hero of Medinah in 2012 needed a wildcard but hopes are high for similar inspiration in Scotland. He has won eight out of nine points for the team when selected as a wildcard.

Lee Westwood

The Englishman needs four points to equal Sir Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup points record of 25, though Faldo played in 11 Ryder Cups - 46 matches in all. Westwood won at the Malaysian Open in April.

Stephen Gallacher

The Scotsman retained the Dubai Desert Classic in 2014 and will have home support on his side, but has never finished in the top 10 of a major.

Captain

Paul McGinley

McGinley made history by becoming the first Irishman to captain a Ryder Cup team. He made three consecutive, and victorious, Ryder Cup appearances in 2002, 2004 and 2006, holing a 10ft putt on the 18th in his match against Jim Furyk in 2002.

Full Ryder Cup coverage details on the BBC