Englishman Luke Donald says he is “truly honoured” after being named European Ryder Cup captain ahead of the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome (USA 1/2, Draw 11/1, Europe 2/1 – Outright Betting).
The former world number one will now be doing all he can for the next 12 months to prepare for the competition, with Team USA set to defend their crown after their emphatic victory in September 2021.
Swede Henrik Stenson was originally named as captain, but he was sacked last month after defecting to LIV Golf. Stenson’s tenure lasted only 127 days before he signed a reported £40million contract with the Saudi Arabian-funded LIV series.
Donald is the first English skipper since Sir Nick Faldo in 2008, as he beat the likes of Thomas Bjorn, Paul Lawrie and Robert Karlsson in the race to replace Stenson.
The 44-year-old says he will now get to work in order to get his team into a winning position at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome.
He tweeted: “So excited and truly honoured to be named European Ryder Cup captain. I’m really looking forward to the next 14 months and getting my team ready for Rome.”
Donald played in four Ryder cups between 2004 and 2012, and he was on the winning side on each occasion. He assisted Bjorn in Paris in 2018, while he was also part of Padraig Harrington’s team at Whistling Straits as Europe (2/1 to lift the Ryder Cup) lost 19-9.
The likes of Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Bernd Wiesberger have all joined the LIV Series and may be unavailable for selection as Europe prepare to go head-to-head against Zach Johnson’s team, who look set to be without Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed for the same reason.
