Captain Luke Donald breaks 30-year Ryder Cup mould and answers three-word Europe chant
Luke Donald will lead Team Europe for a second-consecutive Ryder Cup in 2025.
The Englishman becomes the first back-to-back European captain since Bernard Gallacher between 1991 and 1995.
It comes after his winning team in Rome chanted for 'two more years' after thrashing the Americans in a 16½-11½ victory.
“I’m delighted and honoured to have been given the chance to lead Team Europe in the Ryder Cup once again,” said Donald.
“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.
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“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.”
Donald was widely praised for his intricate and detailed approach to the captaincy despite only getting the job after Henrik Stenson joined LIV Golf.
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Europe recovered from a record-breaking 2021 defeat in Wisconsin to dominate a star-studded American team in September.
Speaking in the winning press conference, European star Rory McIlroy said: “I think everyone sitting here would be very happy to have him [Donald as captain] again."
The reigning champions head to New York in 2025 knowing there have only been two away Ryder Cup victories in the last 28 years, both by Europe.
Speaking in Rome, McIlroy added: "I've said it for six or seven years to anyone who will listen, one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup.
"And that's what we're going to do at Bethpage."
While Europe have made their decision remarkably early, Tiger Woods was keen to bat away any questions about the USA captaincy at a press conference on Wednesday.
“Right now there’s too much at stake with our tour to think about a Ryder Cup," Woods said, referring to negotiations over the PGA Tour's future.
“We have to get this done and we have to be focused on this right now. The players and everyone involved understands that this is an issue we need to focus on.”