Meet the A Team - US Walker Cup skipper George “Buddy” Marucci profiles his stars

Rickie Fowler, 18, Murrieta, California
A quarter-finalist in the 2006 US amateur, he is a young talent and he’s had a fabulous summer. He’s played as well as anybody on our team. Young and aggressive, he is a very exciting player. Confident and a real sweet kid, he’s a rising star you will hear a lot about in the future.

Billy Horschel, 20, Grant, Florida
Mr 60. We don’t look at him as our answer to Rory McIlroy. He has been a great college player, consistent week in and week out. He has the prettiest golf swing I’ve seen in a long time. He is one of the best ball-strikers we’ve seen in a long time. And he’s fun too.

Dustin Johnson 23, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
He’s the Big South Conference Player of the Year. He’s as good a natural talent as I have ever seen. He just walks up and does it. He really is a wonderful player.

Chris Kirk, 22, Woodstock, Georgia
The Ben Hogan Player of the Year, Chris is a quiet, sleeper guy. He is one of the best putters on our team and a real, soft-spoken gentleman.

Colt Knost, 22, Dallas, Texas
The US Public Links and US Amateur champion, Colt is a fire player. He has a lot of drive and ambition and he has had a dream year. He is playing beautifully and has a great ball flight for playing over here. He will be very strong for us.

Trip Kuehne, 35, Irving, Texas
I played with Trip in ‘95 at Portcawl. He is the only mid-amateur who has a real power game, so the young kids look up to him. He is a good ally out there. He has done it before and has had a good year, qualifying for the US Open. Last year he did really well. He is a stabling influence and a bit of the old and the new coming together.

Jamie Lovemark, 19, Rancho Santo Fe, California
Nicknamed “Loverman” by the boys, he’s an 18 year old kid who shot 63 to win the NCAAs this year and only lost a Nationwide Tour event in a play-off. So much talent and he’s a lot more serious about the game than he lets on. He’s going to be one of the best in the US in a few years.

Jonathan Moore, 22, Vancouver, Washington
Jonathan is as professional about the game as anyone I have ever seen. He’s more into the swing than any of the others. Last year’s NCAA champ.

Webb Simpson, 21, Raleigh, North Carolina
Webb won three events this year and he’s a natural talent like Dustin and Jamie. Always has a smile on his face but has tremendous desire. He is going to be a lot of fun. He really gets it going. He’s our ‘Face Man’ too, all the girls like him.

Kyle Stanley, 19, Gig Harbor, Washington
Very quiet but an unbelievable ball-striker. He was runner up in the NCAAs and won twice last year. Every week he’s in the top five. He will be extremely effective for us here because he hits the ball so solidly.