European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald says he is relishing the chance to lead his team once again, this time on American soil at Bethpage Black, for the 45th edition of golf’s most storied team event.
Donald, who guided Europe to victory at Marco Simone in 2023, described the past three and a half years as “one of the most rewarding things” in his life. “It’s been a privilege, and to obviously get an opportunity to do one home and one away is something not a lot of people have had,” he said.
The Englishman expressed confidence in his side’s preparation and togetherness, noting that 11 of the 12 players from Rome are back for this year’s matches.
“It’s a very similar team, which is unusual, never happened in the history of our Ryder Cup teams in Europe, to have 11 come back. So we have a lot of cohesion. I certainly haven’t had to work that hard with these guys because of what we did two years ago.”
BETHPAGE STRATEGY
On the challenge of Bethpage Black, Donald acknowledged the difficulty of the famed public course but suggested it would reward aggressive play.
“Bethpage is a tough course, but it’s certainly not set up like a U.S. Open. You’re going to have to expect to go out there and make some birdies. These are world-class players.”
As captain, Donald emphasised his role in finding small advantages and creating an environment where his team can thrive, factors he hopes can tilt the Ryder Cup odds in Europe’s favour
“Ultimately it’s my job to get those guys in the right frame of mind, performing at the highest level. If things go wrong, then yeah, there will be lots of questions aimed at me, and that’s the responsibility you take as a captain.”
REMEMBERING THE GREATS
He also highlighted the importance of unity and symbolism. The European team wore salmon pink in practice, a nod to the 1987 side that claimed Europe’s first victory on U.S. soil.
“It’s always important to rally around something. History and our unity and celebrating what we’ve done in the past and the legends that have come before us is really important. It can be done, it has been done, and we’re here to try and do it again.”
Donald added that creating memories beyond the competition is part of his role. “My job is to, one, obviously get the guys ready but create an experience for them that they’ll never forget. We want to create a week where they have the most fun, on and off the golf course.”
As for his personal approach, Donald said he has learned to embrace the magnitude of the role. “Being a captain is not easy. There’s a lot of buildup, a lot that goes into it.
You can get engulfed and swallowed up in the little details. But both of us, we need to embrace it, enjoy it, because these are opportunities you don’t get very often. To have a chance to do it twice is incredible. It’s certainly something I do not ever take for granted.”
With the buildup now over, Donald is eager for the action to begin. “It’s been a long buildup, and now it’s time to let the guys go play.”
