SUTTON PROFILE Age: 46 Ryder Cup caps: 1985, 1987, 1999 (winners), 2002 Record: Played 16, won 7, halved 4 Points scoring ratio: 56%

The 46-year-old made his debut in the historic American loss at The Belfry in 1985 and played again at Muirfield Village in 1987 before a 12-year gap.

Sutton won three-and-a-half points out of five on his reappearance in 1999, and bagged one point from two in 2002.

But ominously he has lost both his singles matches with opposing captain Bernhard Langer.

Sutton, a two-time Walker Cup player, is a well-respected figure in American golf, and until being awarded the Ryder Cup captaincy sat on the PGA Tour Policy Board.

But his playing career can be split into two halves.

He turned professional in 1981 after being crowned the College Player of The Year.

He won the first of his 14 US PGA Tour victories 12 months later and by 1986 he had added another five.

But after two Ryder Cup appearances, his blossoming career was stopped in its tracks as he struggled with personal problems.

Sutton bounced back nine years later to win the 1995 B.C. Open and has landed six other titles since then.

Did you know? Off the course, Sutton works in the family oil business in Louisiana and also sells horses and designs golf courses.