By Mark Lamport-Stokes MEDINAH, Illinois (Reuters) - U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman, opting for experience and form, has selected Stewart Cink and Scott Verplank as his wildcard picks for next month's match against Europe. Lehman announced his decision in a news conference at Medinah Country Club on Monday as he rounded out his 12-man team to take on Europe at the K Club in Straffan, Ireland from September 22-24. Cink, 33, has represented his country at the last two Ryder Cups while the 42-year-old Verplank appeared for the only time in 2002. "The two guys that I have picked I believe make the team complete," said Lehman, who will attempt to end a run of four European victories in the last five Ryder Cup matches. "Stewart has played steady golf throughout his whole career. He hits the ball great, is a strong guy and tough competitor and has played well all through the summer. "And this team really needed someone who can putt and chip and hit the ball on the fairway and that's why I picked Scott Verplank. Plus, he's a tough, tough competitor." A veteran of three Ryder Cups as a player, Lehman said he had narrowed his wildcard options down to six before opting for Cink and Verplank early on Monday. "It's been a difficult decision for me to make, and tough for me to call people whom I respect to say: 'No, I did not pick you'," he added. "I basically spoke to everyone from positions 11 to 25 on the phone, except for two guys who I spoke to yesterday on the course." SIX POSSIBILITIES Lehman's final six possibilities for wildcard selection were Cink, Verplank, Davis Love III, Lucas Glover, Steve Stricker and Corey Pavin. "The fact that I didn't pick Davis Love III is going to hurt a lot of guys because they respect Davis so much," Lehman said of the veteran of six Ryder Cups and six Presidents Cups. "But the flip side of the coin is that I think I picked the two guys who are playing extremely well. It's not personal. It's all about picking the best team possible."

Asked whether he was concerned neither Cink nor Verplank had won on the PGA Tour over the last two years, he replied: "Obviously I do think about that and the fact is that there are not a lot of American guys winning, period. "At the end of the day, the criteria of winning is every bit as important as how you perform and I think these guys perform well under pressure. I don't doubt their heart at all. Their heart is the reason why I picked them." The leading 10 players in the U.S. Cup standings, after the PGA Championship ended Sunday at Medinah Country Club, qualified automatically for the 36th Ryder Cup. Cink and Verplank, who have each won four times on the PGA Tour, were 12th and 20th in the final Cup table. European captain Ian Woosnam will complete his 12-man team by naming two wildcards after this month's BMW International Open in Munich. U.S. team: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Chad Campbell, David Toms, Chris DiMarco, Vaughn Taylor, J.J. Henry, Zach Johnson, Brett Wetterich, Stewart Cink and Scott Verplank.