Yesterday Davis Love III named his four captains picks for the US Ryder Cup team.
The four men lucky enough to get the call were Dustin Johnson, Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker and Steve Stricker.
The 12 men making up the American team are a mix of rookies and experienced heads but will it be enough to wrestle the Ryder Cup away from Europe?
Having profiled Jose Maria Olazabal's team last week who are hoping to retain the trophy (http://www.ewansworldofsport.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/a-winning-team-profiling-european-ryder.html), I will now take a look at the American team.
Tiger Woods: The most famous golfer of all time has certainly shown major signs of returning to form in 2012.
He has three wins on the PGA Tour this season (Arnold Palmer, The Memorial and the AT+T National) and finished third at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday.
Despite not winning a major this year, he does seem closer than he was the last couple of years finishing in a tie for third at the Open in July.
His Ryder Cup record is very mixed though and he has never seemed to 'feel' the occasion.
But he could well be inspired by the course at Medinah- a place where he won two PGA championships in 1999 and 2006.
Webb Simpson: The US Open champion is one of four rookies in the American team compared to just the one (Nicolas Colsaerts) in the European team.
However, he showed great mettle when winning the US Open in June, shooting a pair of superb 68's over the weekend.
His recent form though has been extremely poor. He missed the cut at the PGA Championship and the first event of the FedEx Cup series before only finishing in a tie for 18th at the Deutsche Bank championship.
Jason Dufner: Another rookie on the US team, but one that is ranked 7th in both the World Rankings and the FedEx cup standings.
He might show little emotion on the course but Dufner loves to win. He has won twice this season on the PGA Tour (Zurich Classic and the Byron Nelson Championship) and during a superb spell around May and June, he also finished in a tie for fourth at the US Open.
The course should suit him and I believe he could be one of the US's top points scorers.
Bubba Watson: This years Masters champion is one of golf's great characters with his huge drives and bubbly personality.
Due to his swing, he can be very wild off the tee and he could be a liability for Love over the three days. He only managed one win from four last time around and his recent form has been poor and infact Watson has only managed two top tens since his win at Augusta.
Keegan Bradley: The winner of last years PGA Championship- on his Major debut nonetheless is my tip to be America's best player.
It may be the 26 year-olds debut in the Ryder Cup but he absolutely thrives on the big occasion.
A fantastic ball striker who will be key in the foursomes in particular, Bradley will come to Medinah in great form.
Last month he won the Bridgestone Invitational before finishing in a tie for third at the PGA Championship.
Expect him to be a regular player over the first two days.
Matt Kuchar: Kuchar is another American player who will be lining up in the foursomes matches due to his great iron play.
He has been in top form this season, most notably in May when he won the Players Championship.
That followed an impressive tied for third at the Masters and he has also had top tens in big events such as The Open and the Bridgestone Invitational.
However, he recently shot a horrendous 82 at the PGA Championship and Love will hope that's long gone from his mind by the time the competition starts in a few weeks.
Zach Johnson: The 2007 Masters champion will be playing in his third Ryder Cup and will be desperate to get a first win in the event.
The course doesn't suit has natural game but Steve Stricker aside, he is the best putter on the American team and he has always seemed to enjoy playing in the Ryder Cup.
Despite not challenging at the top end of any Major this year (his best has been a tie for 9th at The Open), he does have two wins this season so goes into the competition in confident mood.
Phil Mickelson: Much like Martin Kaymer on the European team, it sounds crazy to say someone of 'Lefty's' talents will be a weak link to his side, but he has been in very poor form.
After a tremendous start to the year when he won the AT+T at Pebble Beach and followed that up with a second place at the Northern Trust Open and a tie for third at the Masters, his form went out the window.
His summer slump saw him fail to challenge at the US Open and the PGA Championship as well as missing the cut at The Open.
However, on Monday came a glimmer of hope. Mickelson managed to finish tied fourth at the Deutsche Bank championship shooting four rounds in the 60s.
Love will hope it's that Mickelson that shows up in Chicago.
Steve Stricker: The first of the four picks selected by Davis Love is the oldest player on either side at 45 years old.
His experience was the main reason for his selection as well as the fact he is the only person that can easily partner Tiger Woods.
His putting is also a superb weapon for the US to have and he comes into the event in good form with top seven finishes at the Bridgestone and the PGA Championship last month.
Dustin Johnson: I was so confident that Johnson would get a pick from Love, I considered lumping my life savings on it for a pitiful return.
The Medinah course suits his long driving game down to a tee and it would have been a crazy decision if Love didn't pick him.
A natural talent who is surely due to win a Major soon, he came into form at the perfect time ahead of Love's selections finishing in the top five at both of the opening two events of the FedEX Cup series.
He'll be keen to improve on his record of one win last time out.
Brandt Snedeker: The final rookie on the American side was like Dustin Johnson in timing his run of form to perfection.
He finished second at The Barclays two weeks ago before ending up in a tie for sixth at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday.
Snedeker also led The Open at the halfway stage after superb rounds of 66 and 64, before finishing in a tie for third.
Blessed with a wonderful putting stroke, Snedeker deserves his chance at trying to win the Ryder Cup.
Jim Furyk: Completing the US Ryder Cup team is the 2003 US Open champion Furyk.
Perhaps the most controversial of Love's picks, Furyk will need to deliver big time if he isn't to get a slaughtering by the US media.
He has lost a staggering 15 matches out of 27 at the Ryder Cup and this year has blown chances to win the US Open and the Bridgestone Invitational.
Love will hope that Furyk thrives on the criticism and that home advantage can carry him on.
Love's 12 men that have been given the task of winning the Ryder Cup back undoubtedly have world class talent in abundance between them with a great mix of youngsters and experience.
But can the rookies handle the pressure or will they collapse in the heat of Chicago?
It's going to be extremely close as I said last week. Right now I can't even call a winner.
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