Bringing his team across the Atlantic to visit the K Club over the next few days in advance of the Ryder Cup matches is an innovative step for an American captain. As a team-bonding and fact-finding exercise it could reap huge benefits next month with Woods saying he is especially keen to pass on his knowledge of the Straffan course to his teammates.

For the first time in the history of the event, the Americans are the underdogs in the eyes of the public and most bookmakers. The announcement of the US side on Monday did nothing to remove the weight of public expectation and money on Ian Woosnam's European side, but again, Lehman didn't put a foot wrong with his wild card picks. And you can't blame the captain for some of the players foisted on him.

Those who are predicting that Europe will win easily can hardly have been discouraged that Brett Wetterich held on to his automatic place in the American team following the US PGA Championship. Wetterich, who few on this side of the pond were aware of before this year, had a flash-in-the-pan summer which got him into the team, and he is one of four rookies in Lehman's side.

Two of these, Vaughan Taylor and Zach Johnston, were born within a fortnight of each other in 1976 and are heading in the right direction up the world rankings. Lehman is likely to view them as welcome additions, but the fourth newcomer, JJ Henry, is, like Wetterich, a weak link.

Given the serious reservations over two of his side it was essential that Lehman chose his two wild cards astutely. He could, after all, be down to 10 men for the opening two days. Tough, proven competitors were required and Stewart Cink and Scott Verplank fit that billing.

Neither is a prolific winner, but then the same could be said of most of the 24 players who will tee it up on 22 September. Cink was 12th in the Ryder Cup points list, is enjoying a solid season, and is more than capable of shooting low numbers. Verplank is a grinder with a short game well suited to match play.

With four rookies already in the team it would have been too much of a risk for Lehman to have chosen Lucas Glover, a candidate in the Taylor and Johnston mould. The safe option, and the one which would have encountered least public resistance, would have been to opt for Davis Love . . . and in resisting the temptation Lehman proved again that he is his own man.

"He hasn't played well, plain and simple, " pointed out the American captain. And he hasn't. With six Ryder Cups in the bank he would have brought valuable experience to the American side, but much of his recent play has looked tired and jaded.

So Cink and Verplank it is, and with these selections Lehman has given himself a fighting chance of enjoying a celebratory drink on the night of 24 September. If he does win the Ryder Cup he will deserve the heartfelt thanks of his nation, because it's doubtful if an American captain has ever gone into the match with a weaker hand.

Admittedly he has a great base to start with, because if he teams Woods up with world No 3 Jim Furyk he should have a guaranteed four points on the board before the singles even begin. These are the two form players on the planet, and their games compliment each other perfectly; it's hard to envisage any European combination which could beat them in the foursomes or fourballs.

Underneath the top pair, though, the American underbelly is very soft. The middle trio of Chad Campbell, David Toms and Chris DiMarco have been inconsistent due to loss of form and injury, while Mickelson's Ryder Cup record does not inspire awe.

Opting for Cink and Verplank was the best choice the captain could have made in the circumstances. What may worry him most is that, Glover and Love aside, there weren't too many alternatives.

TEAM AMERICA

CHAD CAMPBELL (Andrews, Texas) Age 32 Caps: 1 (2004). Record: P3 W1 L2.

World ranking: 20. Majors: 0. Other wins: 3. Easily beat Luke Donald in singles after losing both fourball games. Voted by his peers in 2003 as "player most likely to win a major", but has yet to do so. Second in 2003 US PGA, beat Tiger Woods in Accenture match play and joint third at the Masters. Qualifying position: 4

STEWART CINK (Huntsville, Alabama) Age 33 Caps: 2 (2002, '04). Record: P7 W2 H1 L4. World ranking: 41. Majors: 0. Other wins: 4. Chosen as wild card last time and a week later won NEC world championship in climb to world's top 10. Disappointed in Detroit and at Presidents Cup and has not won since.

Captain's pick again.

CHRIS DIMARCO (Huntington, New York) Age 37 Caps: 1 (2004). Record: P4 W2 H1 L1.

World ranking: 13. Majors: 0. Other wins: 4. Runner-up to Tiger Woods at Open in July ended mini-slump following skiing injury in March. Lost play-offs to Vijay Singh in 2004 US PGA and to Woods at 2005 Masters. Expected to partner Phil Mickelson. Qualifying position: 6 JIM FURYK (West Chester, Pennsylvania) Age 36 Caps: 4 (1997, '99, 2002 '04). Record: P15 W4 H2 L9. World ranking: 3.

Majors: 1 (US Open 2003). Other wins: 13. Fancied to become Tiger Woods' 11th cup partner after their Presidents Cup success.

Surprisingly poor record considering how highly he is rated, but did thrash David Howell 6&4 last time.

Qualifying position: 3

JJ HENRY (Fairfield, Connecticut) Age 31 Caps: 0. World ranking: 74. Majors: 0.

Other wins: 1. Actual name Ronald Henry III, but always known as JJ. Had played only three majors prior to this season. Maiden US Tour win came at 177th attempt in Buick Championship at start of July. Ranked 190th in the world going into 2006. Qualifying position: 8

ZACH JOHNSON (Iowa City, Iowa) Age 30 Caps: 0. World ranking: 37. Majors: 0.

Other wins: 1. Turned professional in 1998, but did not make it onto US Tour until 2004. Became just the second player in the circuit's history to surpass two million dollars in rookie season. Two second places this year and was third in World Match Play. Qualifying position: 9

PHIL MICKELSON (San Diego, California) Age 36 Caps: 5 (1995, '97, '99, 2002, '04).

Record: P20 W9 H3 L8. World ranking: 2. Majors: 3 (Masters 2004, '06, US PGA 2005). Other wins: 27. Had nightmare time in last match after being paired the "rst day with Tiger Woods. Broke major duck after 17 top 10 finishes, then added two more and needed closing par to win US Open in June, but double-bogeyed. Qualifying position: 2

VAUGHN TAYLOR (Roanoke, Virginia) Age 30 Caps: 0. World ranking: 57. Majors: 0.

Other wins: 2. Family moved to Augusta when he was young and he played golf on public course. Finally made it to Masters there in April. Tour wins both came in Reno while the stars were away playing a world championship. Six top 10s this year. Qualifying position: 7

DAVID TOMS (Monroe, Louisiana) Age 39 Caps: 2 (2002, '04). Record: P8 W4 H1 L3. World ranking: 12. Majors: 1 (US PGA 2001). Other wins: 11. Underwent heart surgery in November. Recorded lowest-ever total in majors in winning PGA "ve years ago. Was America's top scorer on debut at The Belfry, but won one of only three games last time. Qualifying position: 5

SCOTT VERPLANK (Dallas, Texas) Age 42 Caps: 1 (2002). Record: P3 W2 L1.

World ranking: 33. Majors: 0. Other wins: 4. Wild card pick four years ago . . .the first time an American captain had picked an uncapped player . . . and again this time. Like Phil Mickelson, won on US Tour when still an amateur.

BRETT WETTERICH (Cincinnati, Ohio) Age 33 Caps: 0. World ranking: 61. Majors: 0.

Other wins: 1. Turned professional in 1994 and burst to prominence this season after surviving US Tour qualifying school with nothing to spare last December.

Won first title in May and was second at Memorial. Was 294th in world at start of year. Qualifying position: 10

TIGER WOODS (Cypress, California) Age 30 Caps: 4. Record: P20 W7 H2 L11. World ranking: 1. Majors: 12 (Masters 1997, 2001, '02, '05, US Open 2000, '02, Open 2000, '05, '06, US PGA 1999, 2000, '06). Other wins: 57. Now second in all-time major winners list and has nothing to prove except in the Ryder Cup, where he has already had 10 different partners and has tasted team defeat three times.

Qualifying position: 1

CAPTAIN TOM LEHMAN (Austin, Minnesota) Age 47 Caps: 3 (1995, '97, '99). Record: P10 W5 H2 L3. Majors: 1 (Open 1996). Other wins: 8. Won Open at Lytham and had tournament victory at Loch Lomond the following year. Runner-up in 1994 Masters and 1996 US Open.

Unbeaten in Ryder Cup singles and was world number one for one week in 1997. Would have quali"ed for team if he had won rather than lost play-off in Colorado on August 13.