Colsaerts named as Ryder Cup vice captain

Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, one of the most popular players on the DP World Tour, has been named by Luke Donald as a vice captain for next year’s Ryder Cup in Rome.

The 40-year-old, who was on the winning European team at Medinah in 2012, joins Thomas Bjorn and Edorado Molinari on Donald’s backroom team for the match at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.

“My first reaction when Luke asked me was sheer joy,” said Colsaerts, inset, a three-time DP World Tour winner. “Every time I hear the words ‘Ryder Cup’, it takes me back to the edition I played in, how proud I was to wear the European colours and be part of such an unbelievable event. “Being a vice captain is a different role to being a player but, nevertheless, my mission in 2023 will be exactly the same as it was in 2012, namely, to make a contribution to the team in any way I can. Rest assured, whatever I am asked to do, I will do it.”

Colsaerts produced one of the most memorable debuts in the history of the event at Medinah when he carded eight birdies and an eagle in partnership with Lee Westwood to help defeat Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker on the final green in the Friday fourball session.

He added: “We already have two fantastic vice captains in Thomas Bjørn and Edoardo Molinari and we already have a special bond between us. We are all different personalities but that is interesting because when you put us all in a room together you will have different angles, and Luke will be able to take what is best from each of us.”

Donald said of his latest appointment: “I am very happy to have him as my third vice captain. Nico gets along extremely well with all the guys out here on the DP World Tour and he will be a great person to help keep an eye on things here in Europe in periods when I might be in the US.

"There is already great communication between us – myself, Thomas, Edoardo and Nico – and I couldn’t be happier with the way my backroom team is shaping up.”