‘If it’s him – Great’: Could Luke Donald have a Ryder Cup date with Tiger Woods?
We know who Europe’s Ryder Cup captain in 2025 will be, but could Luke Donald face a huge showdown with a certain 15-time major winner?
The 2025 Ryder Cup is a mouthwatering prospect.
Luke Donald will need every ounce of experience to silence the rowdy New York orchestra that could be conducted by Tiger Woods.
The Englishman has played Woods three times and beaten him three times in previous Ryder Cups – including a 6&5 mauling in Wales in 2010.
Europe’s first repeat captain since Bernard Gallacher will be ready for any opponent whether it is Woods or anyone.
“The desire to win, whoever the captain is, is strong – Tiger’s been mentioned as a possible candidate and we’ll have to wait and see. If it’s him great, if it’s someone else, great,” he said after being appointed as captain for the second time.
“In the meantime, my role is to try and, again, start the preparations and try and figure out the best opportunity for us to be successful again come September in 2025 in New York. So that’s really my focus.
“I’ve got to play a lot of times with Tiger in my career. I have great admiration for what he’s done, what he’s done in the game.
“You would think he was going to be a Ryder Cup captain at some point and if it’s this time, great, if it’s another time, great, but, again, it’s not really my focus.
“Again, it’s something a little bit out of my control, so I’m not really trying to think about it and once it happens, then we’ll address it.
“But if it’s Tiger or someone else, again, I’m looking forward to the challenge of being captain once more.”
Woods said there was “too much at stake” with the PGA Tour to speculate on Ryder Cup captaincy when speaking at the Hero World Challenge.
Luke Donald: Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage on the horizon?
Donald has tamed Bethpage Black before. He came tied for 18th on his US Open debut at the famous venue in 2002.
A raucous atmosphere is expected in Farmingdale as Europe looks to end what could become a tedious trend: the home team always wins.
The 45-year-old was pivotal in his side’s comeback win at Medinah in 2012, but this is Europe’s only one in their last four attempts in America.
Padraig Harrington’s side was humbled 19-9 at Whistling Straits, but Donald has the potential to join Tony Jacklin as the only other European captain to win the Ryder Cup on both sides of the pond.
“All Ryder Cups are loud and boisterous and New York won’t be any different and maybe even more so,” he added.
“But I played at Bethpage a few times and the New Yorkers love their sport and they love some jostling and all that kind of that goes with it.
“Obviously I have 22 months to try and figure out how to get the guys in the right frame of mind to deal with that, with the crowd.
“It’s the same every time you go away and New York might be a touch – a notch above that, but again, that’s to be seen.
“I’ve got 22 months now to try to figure that and those were sort of the things that will certainly be swishing around in my brain over the next few weeks.”
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
