Donald to lead Europe at Ryder Cup

Luke Donald jumped at a second chance to be Ryder Cup captain for Europe, taking over just 14 months before the 2023 matches in Italy without knowing whether players who sign up for the Saudi riches of LIV Golf will be available to him. Donald only knew that unlike Henrik Stenson, stripped of the captaincy for signing up with LIV Golf, he wouldn’t be going anywhere. Stenson, who pledged full support to the European tour in March when he was announced as captain, changed his mind four months later and signed with LIV Golf for a $50 million bonus. Europe turned to Donald, a finalist for the job in March and a former world No. 1 who played on four Ryder Cup teams that all ended in a European celebration. He compiled a 10-4-1 record. The 44-year-old Donald, a former NCAA champion at Northwestern, spent 56 weeks at No. 1 in the world in 2011 and 2012. He also was the first player to capture the money title on the PGA Tour and European tour in the same year. Donald said Thomas Bjorn and Edoardo Molinari will stay on as vice captains. Zach Johnson is the U.S. captain.