MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, 18 August 2004 — United States Ryder Cup team captain Hal Sutton has completed his team for next month’s battle with Europe with final wild card choices Jay Haas and Stewart Cink.

Sutton had been given the basis for most of his team after the USPGA Championship which ended on Sunday with the victory of Fijian Vijay Singh over American Justin Leonard.

Although Leonard had been hoping for a late call-up after missing out on automatic entry to the team, Sutton opted for Cink and Haas — who will become the second oldest ever American team member after Ray Floyd, who competed at The Belfry in 1993 aged 51 and 20 days, when play starts against Bernhard Langer’s European team in Detroit Sept. 17 .

Cink, 31, is the current world No. 14 and made his Ryder Cup debut at The Belfry two years ago.

But perhaps the biggest surprise was the inclusion of Haas, who has not won a tournament since 1993 and on his last Ryder Cup appearance nine years ago effectively cost America the match when he fluffed the last hole against Philip Walton.

Sutton is hoping the experience of Haas, who has been in the top ten for the past three years, will belie his recent lack of success.

From the agony of losing his top ten spot which could have got him automatic entry on Sunday, Haas 24 hours later was ecstatic about his late inclusion.

“I’m pretty emotional about it,” Haas said. “It’s something I pointed to for the last couple of years. To realize that goal is pretty exciting.”

Cink’s previous experience of the Cup and three recent top 10 finishes meant he got the nod ahead of Steve Flesch and Jerry Kelly, who finished above him in the points table but who had no Ryder Cup experience.

“I would have loved to qualify on my own, but I’m so excited to be on the team again,” said Cink, whose inclusion also meant there was no place for Scott Verplank, a steady player who had an outstanding Ryder Cup two years ago.

“He was disappointed, but I told Scott that I was concerned about his foot and ankle problems,” Sutton said of his decision.

“There are many deserving people for this team, but they only give me two spots. We’re four weeks away from determining whether I made the right decision or the wrong decision.”

He added: “The two I have chosen are not only great players, but also great human beings and I’ve picked two guys who can be mature about this. They are going to help us win back the Ryder Cup.”

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III and Jim Furyk were the only players who had clinched spots on the Ryder Cup team before the PGA Championship.

Kenny Perry, David Toms and Chad Campbell secured their spots on Sunday.

Fred Funk missed the cut at the PGA Championship, but did not lose his automatic qualifying spot.

Cup debutants Chris DiMarco and Chris Riley played their way into the team after top-four finishes on Sunday.