2013 USA Presidents Cup Team: Complete Breakdown of American Participants

The U.S. will send a star-studded roster to defend their Presidents Cup title starting on Thursday at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio against some of the world's best. 

Fred Couples hand-picked the 12-man roster for the weekend event, which marks the 10th time the biennial competition has been played. The Americans will face off against the International Team, which includes the best non-European golfers outside of the U.S.

Let's take a look at the Americans taking center stage in this weekend's event.

Tiger Woods

It's hard to believe it with another major-less season and failing to win the FedEx Cup in the final weekend, but Tiger Woods had a heck of a year in 2013.

Next up will be Muirfield, which has been Woods' personal wrecking ground in his career. He's won the Memorial Tournament there five times.

The Americans will need more of the same for the 37-year-old if they want to defend their crown.

Brandt Snedeker

Always on the short list of major contenders entering Sunday, Snedeker still hasn't won his first major, but continues to play some of the world's best golf.

The Nashville, Tenn. native has emerged as the No. 9 player in the world and has six PGA Tour victories to his credit. He's also striking the ball better than ever this season.

Phil Mickelson

Just when you write Lefty off, he comes back and dominates.

This season, it was the British Open that helped propel Mickelson's legacy to new heights, and we'd be foolish to think he couldn't do it again at the Presidents Cup or anywhere else, for that matter.

Matt Kuchar

The 35-year-old's successes this season bode well for his chances to be one of America's top golfers this weekend. He won the Memorial in Dublin.

Just as well, he won the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship, which boasts a similar format to this weekend's tournament.

Jason Dufner

Not many golfers strike the ball more confidently and calmly than Dufner, and that will be advantage USA due to the nerve-wracking nature of tournaments such as these.

Dufner's recent form—winning the PGA Championship to secure his first major—doesn't hurt, either. 

Keegan Bradley

The No. 15 world player was seemingly snubbed by Couples two years ago after winning the PGA Championship, but that same mistake was not made again.

Bradley formed an incredible duo with Mickelson at the Ryder Cup last year in Medinah, so pencil that in as one of America's impact partnerships this weekend.

Steve Stricker

Every team needs its chiseled veteran just from a morale standpoint, but Steve Stricker will be much more than that for America's side.

The 46-year-old has emerged as the seventh-ranked player in the world this season after flirting with retirement in recent seasons, and it appears that he's continuing that upward trend. Look out for his play this weekend to see how much that top form hangs around.

Bill Haas

This is one name that will intrigue some people, but it shouldn't—Haas tied the PGA Tour lead this season with nine top-10 finishes.

Haas didn't do well in his first appearance in the Presidents Cup (1-3-1), but his game is night-and-day compared to a few years back. The 2013 Haas is a much more complete and consistent player.

Hunter Mahan

Here's a guy who is no stranger to the spotlight, having made it to the top twosome in the final rounds of both the British Open and U.S. Open this season.

He also has his fair share of experiences in the Presidents Cup. Although this year, he fortunately got the spot before having to be picked over and eventually taken as a captain's pick. 

Zach Johnson 

The 37-year-old was consistently at the top of leaderboards all spring and summer long, and that should only carry over into his third appearance in the Presidents Cup.

Johnson is rolling after winning the BMW Championship, and perhaps that added momentum will bring him into this weekend's action with some early birdies. 

Jordan Spieth

It's been quite some time since we've seen a golfer rise to power as quickly as Jordan Spieth.

At the beginning of the season, he was still a teenager. Now, he has a PGA Tour victory to his credit and boasts the No. 21 world ranking. Spieth making the team should be a familiar sight a few years down the road. 

Webb Simpson

The 28-year-old has consistently been one of the premier golfers since winning the U.S. Open last year, and that has made him an easy pick for Couples in this year's tournament.

Simpson did well in his first appearance in the Presidents Cup—he won his first three matches and finished 3-2-0—and we should expect to see more of the same.