Donald stays on as Ryder Cup captain and puts Woods role in spotlight
Attention has turned to whether Tiger Woods will captain the US team in the 2025 Ryder Cup after it was confirmed Luke Donald will lead Europe’s trophy defence at Bethpage. Donald, who captained Europe to a comprehensive victory in Rome this year, set his sights on building a legacy as his retention was announced.
Donald had received backing from Rory McIlroy and Europe’s other marquee players immediately after a 16½– 11½ success was secured in October. Donald wants to emulate Tony Jacklin, who guided Europe to victories in 1985 and 1987.
“The Ryder Cup experience for me in 2023 was an amazing one,” Donald said. “I really enjoyed the whole journey. It’s a full-time job, it’s certainly a lot of work but the culture we created in that team and to see the team bond together and come out on top was very gratifying to me. Even when I was lifting the trophy on Sunday and hearing the guys shout: ‘Two more years,’ in the back of my mind, I thought, I don’t really want to let these guys down, but I still wanted some time to think about it.
“So I’m very interested in trying to create some history. To be only the second European Ryder Cup captain to possibly go back-to-back is something that’s very interesting to me and a great challenge and excites me. I love what the Ryder Cup represents. I’ve had so many amazing experiences as a Ryder Cup player and obviously as a captain, and to be given the honour to go backto-back is very special for me.”
Donald has been a benefactor of LIV’s arrival into golf. He replaced
Henrik Stenson as the captain for 2023 after the Swede joined the rebel circuit. Were Stenson, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Sergio García still part of the mainstream European scene it is doubtful that Donald would have been captain at all.
While Donald doubling up always looked straightforward, the US scene is more complex. The status of Woods is such that he can be the Ryder Cup captain any time he likes. Two years’ time in New York has been widely touted for the 15-time major winner stepping into that role but he appeared indifferent towards the prospect when asked about it in the Bahamas this week.
Woods stated his focus is on forging a future for the PGA Tour, which is likely to rumble on for several months as the organisation decides whether to confirm a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund or accept overtures from private equity entities. Woods also has a close alliance with JP McManus, the owner of Adare Manor; the Irish venue will stage the 2027 Ryder Cup.
So it would be no shock if Woods passes on the captaincy this time around but the US are glaringly short of alternatives. Stewart Cink, the 2009 Open champion, is regarded as the most viable. The PGA of America would typically make a captaincy announcement in March.
Donald rightly said matters surrounding Woods are of no concern to him. More pertinent is how he plans to suppress the atmosphere from a vociferous New York crowd. “All Ryder Cups are loud and boisterous and New York won’t be any different, maybe even more so,” Donald said.
“I played at Bethpage a few times and the New Yorkers love their sport and they love some jostling and all that kind of [thing] 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 notch above that.”