This week's US Ryder Cup team contains the winners of six major championships: Fred Couples, Lee Janzen, Tom Lehman, Justin Leonard, Davis Love and Tiger Woods.

This is interesting for the fact that Jack Nicklaus had won seven major championships before making his debut in the 1969 matches at Royal Birkdale. That was back in the bad old days when a player had to be five years a professional before being eligible for selection.

In the same context, Arnold Palmer had won four "majors" before making his debut at Royal Lytham in 1961. Incidentally, this week's European side can boast no fewer than 10 major triumphs - six from Nick Faldo, two from Bernhard Langer and one each from Jose-Maria Olazabal and Ian Woosnam.

Compiled by Dermot Gilleece