Luke Donald has been confirmed as Team Europe’s captain for next year’s Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.
The Englishman will hope to create history and become the first captain to win three Ryder Cups in a row. This will be his third term as captain, after leading Europe to back-to-back victories in 2023 and 2025.
Europe’s 2025 triumph was its first in the United States since 2012. It also made Donald the second captain since Tony Jacklin in 1985 and 1987 to win both at home and away.
As a player, Donald represented Europe in four Ryder Cups. He was part of a winning team on all four occasions and contributed an impressive 10½ points from 15 matches. He also served as Vice Captain in 2018, under Thomas Bjørn, and Dublin’s Padraig Harrington in 2021.
The former world No. 1 said the venue played a big role in his decision to stay on as captain. Donald played in the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club in Kildare. He says he is excited to experience the Irish atmosphere again in Limerick.
“The Irish golf fans are some of the best in the world. They are so passionate about the game, so hospitable and so down to earth. They will bring such great energy to the Ryder Cup,” he said.
“I am sure they will get behind our players and cheer us on. That’s what you want from a crowd – to pick you up in those low moments and keep you going when things are going well.
That will be a big factor. It’s obviously one of the advantages of playing at home, and there is no better place to do it than in Ireland.”
Donald’s reappointment will delight European fans, who chanted “two more years” during the celebrations at Bethpage last September.
Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive of the European Tour Group, said:
“He is meticulous in everything he does when it comes to planning and preparation, but Luke would be the first to acknowledge that as good as job as he has done, this is a new challenge for him and the team. He will be as motivated and as committed as ever to help them achieve more success.”
The USA have not announced their captain yet, with Tiger Woods confirming last month that he is weighing up an offer to lead the team in Limerick.
Next year’s edition of the biannual event will mark its 100th anniversary. The 2027 Ryder Cup will take place at the Limerick venue from 17 to 19 September next year.