World number two Lee Westwood will spearhead Great Britain and Ireland's challenge against a strong Continental Europe featuring the in-form Thomas Bjorn in next week's Vivendi Seve Trophy following confirmation of the teams for the biennial contest.
GB & Ireland, again captained by Irishman Paul McGinley, will defend the title they won two years ago at St-Nom-La-Breteche in Paris from September 15-18, and the team is further strengthened by the presence of Open champion Darren Clarke and world number 18 Ian Poulter.
English trio Simon Dyson, Ross Fisher
and Robert Rock, who were part of that 2009 victory, return to the team, while Welshman Jamie Donaldson, Scotland's Scott Jamieson and English duo David Horsey and Mark Foster will make their debuts in the event.
and Robert Rock, who were part of that 2009 victory, return to the team, while Welshman Jamie Donaldson, Scotland's Scott Jamieson and English duo David Horsey and Mark Foster will make their debuts in the event.
McGinley's side will have to cope without four of the world's top 20 however. Number one Luke Donald's absence was almost inevitable given he is still in the FedEx Cup play-offs in America, but Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Paul Casey have turned down the chance to play.
So too have Martin Laird and Justin Rose because of the play-offs
Continental Europe boasts six players in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking, including Bjorn who completed back-to-back European Tour victories with his Omega European Masters triumph on Sunday following success at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. The 40 year-old Dane, who captained Continental Europe in 2009, has won three times this season to rise to world number 28 and secure a playing role this time around.
Italian teenager Matteo Manassero will make his Vivendi Seve Trophy debut, as will Alex Noren of Sweden, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal. Manassero, at 18 years and 152 days, is the youngest player in the history of the competition, beating the record held by Sergio Garcia,who was 20 years and 96 days in 2000.
Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal. Manassero, at 18 years and 152 days, is the youngest player in the history of the competition, beating the record held by Sergio Garcia,who was 20 years and 96 days in 2000.
Italy's Francesco Molinari, Alvaro Quiros of Spain and Dane Anders Hansen were debutants two years ago and return to the team, while 47 year-old Miguel Angel Jimenez will make his seventh appearance in the competition, hoping to add to his success in 2000. Sweden's Peter Hanson completes the line-up for his fourth appearance.
Missing for Continental Europe are world number three Martin Kaymer - he wants to rest between his defences of the KLM Open and Dunhill Links Championship - and FedEx Cup survivors Robert Karlsson and Sergio Garcia.
McGinley will be aiming to maintain his 100 per cent record in the event, having won it twice as a player in 2006 and 2007 and as captain in 2009.
Boost
He said: "It is a huge boost for our team that players of the calibre of Lee, Darren and Ian have opted to play next week. These are players with big worldwide reputations and impressive Ryder Cup pedigrees.
pedigrees.
"I think we have an extremely strong side with a good blend of youth and experience and I am certain that our four rookies will learn an enormous amount from playing with the likes of Lee and Darren, who have performed at a very elite level for many years.
"It is certain that many of the members of our team will go on to represent Europe in The Ryder Cup, so this experience of team golf cannot be underestimated."
Van de Velde commented: "I would like to thank my Continental side for making the effort to play. We have a very strong team and GB & I will also benefit from having Lee and Darren in their line-up. It has the making of a very exciting and close contest.
"It is great to see so many great champions in the field and so many fantastic young prospects like Matteo Manassero. With eight rookies in the two teams, it means that 40 per cent of the sides are newcomers to the Vivendi Seve Trophy and this will be great preparation for the day they step up to play in The Ryder Cup.
"We have Miguel Angel Jimenez playing in his seventh Seve Trophy and Thomas Bjorn his sixth. However we are 5-1 down in the series and I hope we can reverse the trend."
The strength of the event is evidenced by the fact that six players from the European Ryder Cup team which beat the United States last October are playing - Westwood, Poulter, Fisher, Jiménez, Molinari and Hanson.
Poulter, Fisher, Jiménez, Molinari and Hanson.
The teams play fourballs, greensomes, foursomes and singles over the four days. Qualification for the teams began at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December 2010 and finished after the Omega European Masters last weekend.
The Vivendi Seve Trophy, instigated by the late Seve Ballesteros as a team competition to be contested in non-Ryder Cup years, has been played six times, with Continental Europe winning the first edition at Sunningdale in England and Great Britain and Ireland claiming the last five matches.
as a team competition to be contested in non-Ryder Cup years, has been played six times, with Continental Europe winning the first edition at Sunningdale in England and Great Britain and Ireland claiming the last five matches.
Teams:
Continental Europe: Francesco Molinari, Anders Hansen, Thomas Bjorn, Matteo Manassero, Alvaro Quiros, Alex Noren, Pablo Larrazabal, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Nicolas Colsaerts, Peter Hanson.
GB & Ireland: Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Darren Clarke, Simon Dyson, Ross Fisher, Mark Foster, Robert Rock, Jamie Donaldson, David Horsey, Scott Jamieson.
