Luke Donald has been named as the new European Ryder Cup captain for Rome 2023, replacing Henrik Stenson who was removed from the role having joined LIV Golf.
The 44-year-old former World No.1, who was on the winning team in all four Ryder Cups in which he played, becomes the first English captain since Nick Faldo in 2008.
“I am incredibly proud to be named European Ryder Cup Captain for 2023,” Donald said. “It is truly one of the greatest honours that can be bestowed upon a golfer, to lead a team of your peers and be an ambassador for an entire continent.
“I feel extremely privileged to have been given that responsibility and it is a responsibility I do not take lightly.
“Some of my best experiences in golf have been in the Ryder Cup and I would not swap those for anything. It is an event like no other and I cannot wait to create more special memories in Italy next year.
“I love everything the Ryder Cup embodies, from the camaraderie and companionship of being part of a team, to the history of the contest, but most of all playing for something bigger than yourself.
“Rome will be a fantastic host city, and I have always enjoyed spending time there. It is a city rich in history and hopefully we can create some of our own in 14 months’ time.”
Donald has played on four winning teams.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The Englishman has served as vice captain in both of the last two matches, under Bjorn in Paris and under Padraig Harrington in 2021’s record defeat at Whistling Straits. He now has just over a year to prepare a team to bounce back from that disappointment, and with the LIV cloud hanging over events, that could well be a team stripped of its most experienced members.
Donald is keeping Edoardo Molinari and Thomas Bjorn in their positions as vice captains for next September’s clash, which takes place at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
Bjorn, who led Europe to Ryder Cup victory in the last clash on this side of the Atlantic, in Paris in 2018, had been among the favourites to take the reins again, but along with the likes of Paul Lawrie…
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