Ryder Cup 2012, Team Europe: Rory McIlroy looks to help extend Team Europe's dominance

The 2012 Ryder Cup gets underway on Friday, as Team Europe will look to to repeat as Ryder Cup champions.

Team Europe's roster, as you'd expect, is star-studded, and features perhaps the world's best golfer in Rory McIlroy. McIlroy sits atop the World Golf Ranking, after a stellar 2012.

Team Europe captain José María Olazábal's roster features four of the top five golfers in the World Golf Ranking, including No. 3 Luke Donald, No. 4 Lee Westwood and No. 5 Justin Rose.

Team Europe's roster also features Nicolas Colsaerts, Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer, Paul Lawrie, Graeme McDowell, Francesco Molinari and Ian Poulter.

Thomas Björn, Darren Clarke, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Paul McGinley are serving as Team Europe's vice captains in 2012.

Team Europe has won four of the last five Ryder Cups, dating back to 2002. Team USA's only win since 1999 came in 2008.

Golfers will tee off Friday morning at 8 a.m. ET from Medinah Country Club in Chicago.