For the third consecutive term, Team Europe has entered the tab Luke Donald as its Ryder Cup captain, leaving him to pursue something that has never happened in the event’s 100-year history: the same man leading three consecutive winning teams.
The question that remains unanswered, now 18 months after the event, is who will join them? Who will the Americans name as captain? And who from LIV Golf will be in the squad for the European team?
Donald has been the favorite for the role, likely since his winning night 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black five months ago. It was during that victory press conference that Donald was asked about the potential for a third term. Before he could answer, his team of 12 started chanting, Two more years! Two more years!
Finally, Donald spoke, saying, “My answer is that I will enjoy tonight.”
He enjoyed that night and the months before he made the call. He weighed the pros and cons, even stating, “what if this doesn’t go our way and we’re the first team to lose at home in 34 years, is that tainted?”
This answer is about 17 months away.
Donald has been heralded for his attention to detail, not only empowering his vice-captains to make strategic decisions but also changing the bedding in the team hotel last fall. The sheets weren’t nice enough. If any of his decisions as a leader felt like LOTthe end result has always proven them. of The Europeans defeated the Americans in Rome in 2023. Then they hit them again on Long Island in 2025. The Americans have been playing before the Euros for years. Logistically, at least, this is set to continue.
Donald officially took the throne on Wednesday, but has been leaning towards the decision for much of the last month. He will almost certainly bring back members of his backroom staff – such as statistician Edoardo Molinari – for the Cup at Adare Manor. Molinari played a major role in setting the course during the ’23 Cup in his native Italy, so much so that he was considered by some a candidate for captaincy. In addition, Donald said he will begin to name his vice-captains in the coming months.
As for his American counterpart, that captain remains very vague. Tiger Woods has been “asked for input” on the role, he said, adding that he has not yet made his decision. For the past few years, Woods has been extremely busy planning the future of the PGA Tour – too busy to engage in the many duties of a captain. It has left the PGA of America reeling from time to time, especially iin the case of Keegan Bradleywho was appointed to the position four months later than normal in 2024. However, Woods would be considered the favorite for the role at the moment, in part because everyone else is likely to be in the position for the first time.
It could be Webb Simpson, who has been involved with teams in the past. It could be Brandt Snedeker, who will captain the American Presidents Cup team later this fall. Will Bradley get another run at it? Or has Stewart Cink been waiting for this to be his turn? The PGA of America will likely continue to wait on Woods until he makes a decision. While not much needed at the moment, every week that passes means a week closer to next year’s Cup.
A similarly hazy timeline exists for one of Team Europe’s top players, Jon Rahm, who has publicly expressed a lot of anxiety over the DP World Tour, which runs Ryder Cup Europe. Rahm was allowed to compete for Team Europe in 2025 amid an appeal of sanctions imposed against him by the Europe-based tour for his LIV Golf games at the same time as DPWT events. There are many complex details behind that story, but recently, the DPWT announced that eight of its LIV-playing members have reached agreements to add some DPWT events to their schedule to avoid receiving fines and suspensions. Rahm was not one of those players, and he has since stated that he has no intention of reaching a similar deal. putting his 2027 Ryder Cup availability at risk.
So how will Donald handle this?
He hopes 16 or 17 months from now and roster selection will provide “plenty of time” to figure it out. Donald has yet to speak to Rahm about the matter, but admitted he will in the coming weeks. Guy Kinnings, CEO of DPWT, joined Donald at Wednesday’s virtual press conference and was asked about Rahm’s options moving forward.
“I think it’s pretty straightforward,” Kinnings said. “You know, he either withdraws an appeal and imposes the fines, or he goes through the appeals process and that process is ongoing. And then obviously then we’ll have to go with whatever decision is made at that appeals hearing.”
