Luke Donald will remain Europe’s Ryder Cup captain for the 2025 event at Bethpage Black in New York after masterminding this 12 months’s victory, group bosses introduced on Wednesday.
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The Englishman has been reappointed after the 16.5-11.5 win over the United States in Rome in October, after which Europe’s gamers urged him to break with current custom and lead the facet once more.
The 45-year-old is Europe’s first repeat captain since Bernard Gallacher carried out the function in 1991, 1993 and 1995 and can try to grow to be solely the second skipper after Tony Jacklin to lead Europe to victories each residence and away.
“I’m delighted and honoured to have been given the chance to lead Team Europe in the Ryder Cup once again,” mentioned Luke Donald, who was initially appointed for the 2023 version after Henrik Stenson was sacked for becoming a member of LIV Golf.
“Great alternatives don’t come alongside fairly often in life and I’m an ideal believer that after they do, you want to seize them with each fingers. This is considered one of these moments.
“I’ve been lucky as a participant to have had many wonderful instances within the Ryder Cup over time and so to add being a profitable captain to that, to type bonds with the 12 gamers like we did in Italy and to get the consequence we did, was very particular certainly.
“The Ryder Cup means so much to me, so to be captain again and have the chance to create more history by becoming only the second European captain to win back-to-back is exciting.”
‘Two more years’
Since 1997 European captains have served only one time period however Donald’s gamers made it clear they needed the previous world primary to break the mould as they chanted “two more years” following the five-point win on the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
“I think everyone sitting here would be very happy to have him again,” mentioned four-time main winner Rory McIlroy.
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Donald mentioned within the instant aftermath of Europe’s win that he would take into account remaining as captain, though he was nicely conscious that the final away victory for both facet was the ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012.
He featured as a participant at Medinah Country Club, the place he led Jose Maria Olazabal’s facet out within the singles, securing the primary blue level on the board in one of the crucial well-known comebacks within the historical past of the competition, which is held each two years.
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Luke Donald represented Europe within the Ryder Cup 4 instances as a participant, being a part of a profitable group on all 4 events, contributing 10.5 factors from his 15 matches.
He served as a vice captain in 2018 below Thomas Bjorn and below Padraig Harrington in 2021.
Ryder Cup govt director Guy Kinnings mentioned: “Luke was an excellent captain in Rome and we’re delighted that he can be returning to the function for the 2025 Ryder Cup in New York.
“He demonstrated clear, calm and meticulous leadership skills in Rome, and all those qualities will be big assets again for Luke and Team Europe.”
By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
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