Luke Donald named European Ryder Cup captain for 2025

Luke Donald will captain Europe at the Ryder Cup in 2025.

The Englishman will lead Europe at Bethpage in New York having overseen victory at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome earlier this year.

Donald will become the blue-and-gold team’s first repeat captain since Bernard Gallacher performed the role in three consecutive Ryder Cups in 1991, 1993 and 1995.

Only Tony Jacklin has captained Europe to wins on both home and away soil at the Belfry in 1985 and two years later at Muirfield Village in Ohio.

“I’m delighted and honoured to have been given the chance to lead Team Europe in the Ryder Cup once again,” Donald said in a statement.

“Great opportunities don’t come along very often in life and I’m a great believer that when they do, you need to grab them with both hands – this is one of these moments.

“I’ve been fortunate as a player to have had many amazing times in the Ryder Cup over the years and so to add being a winning captain to that, to form bonds with the 12 players like we did in Italy and to get the result we did, was very special indeed.

“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.

“There is no question that being a captain away from home is a tough task. But I have never shied away from challenges throughout my career and it is precisely the kind of thing that motivates me.

“I can’t wait to get another 12-strong team to Bethpage in 2025.”

Two more years, anyone?

It’s going to be an honour to lead this amazing team once again in New York.

Let’s go #TeamEurope 💙pic.twitter.com/yBBJHlGfYk
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) November 29, 2023

Luke Donald: Ryder Cup ready for 2025

The idea of Donald returning to captain Europe was immediately brought up after they beat the USA 16.5 – 11.5 in Italy.

A chant came up of “two more years” after Tommy Fleetwood clinched the winning point to maintain Europe’s unbeaten run at home dating back to 1993.

“I think everyone sitting here would be very happy to have him again,” Rory McIlroy said in the winning team’s press conference.

Donald was originally appointed as European Ryder Cup captain in August 2022, following the dismissal of Henrik Stenson due to his move to LIV Golf.

The former World No.1 was vice-captain to Thomas Bjorn in Paris in 2018 and Padraig Harrington at Whistling Straits in 2021, experiencing both victory and defeat.

Team America are yet to announce their captain with some speculation surrounding the possible appointment of Tiger Woods.

“There’s too much at stake with our tour to think about the Ryder Cup right now. We have to get this done and we have to be focused on this right now,” Woods said at the Hero World Challenge.

Previous repeat captains

Europe: Charles Whitcombe (4), Henry Cotton (2), Dai Rees (5), Eric Brown (2), Bernard Hunt (2), John Jacobs (2), Tony Jacklin (4), Bernard Gallacher (3)

USA: Walter Hagen (6), Ben Hogan (3), Sam Snead (3), Arnold Palmer (2), Jack Nicklaus (2), Tom Watson (2), Davis Love III (2)

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Luke Donald – Ryder Cup captain 2025! How does that sound? Tell us on X!

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.