European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald already is a hero for leading Team Europe to a resounding victory in Rome in 2023. The 47-year-old Englishman will attempt to become the first captain to win back to back editions of the biennial competition since Tony Jacklin (1985, 1987, 1989).
Donald has represented Europe in the Ryder Cup four times as a player, compiling a 10-4-1 overall record as part of the winning team on all four occasions (2004, 2006, 2010, 2012). He also served as a vice captain on the winning side in 2018 and on the losing team in 2021.
Donald, a Rolex testimonee since 2006, participated in this Ryder Cup-centric Q&A ahead of the 45th Ryder Cup thanks to his longtime sponsor.
Q: How did your 2023 experience shape your preparations for 2025?
LD: Whenever you do something the second time round, you have the benefit of having done it before. You take the things that went well and build on them, and you also have the learnings from what maybe didn’t go quite as well. At the same time though, it is going to be a different experience this year, being an away Ryder Cup, so that will shape our preparations as much as the experiences we took from 2023, if not more.
Q: What’s the most important lesson you learned as captain in Rome?
LD: Probably the importance of time management. So much happens during the Ryder Cup week. It’s crucial that you are organized and trust the team around you – your vice captains and the backroom staff – to help you.
Q: How do you maintain composure and consistency under pressure — both as a golfer and as a leader?
LD: That is one of the challenges of playing elite sport. Experience certainly helps. The more you experience the pressure of being in contention or leading, that more you know what to expect. As a captain, it’s a different type of pressure. You don’t hit any shots, so you can’t affect the outcome directly like you can when you are playing, so you have to focus on the things that you can control.
Q: What does legacy mean to you at this stage in your career?
LD: Legacy can have multiple meanings. I’m very proud of the legacy of my individual career and my Ryder Cup playing record. Then Rome added to that in terms of being a winning captain. I’m excited by the opportunity to potentially do something special in New York and the challenge that presents. But you are also trying to continue the legacy of what has been achieved by those who have represented Europe before you. And then you also have the legacy of how you are as a person towards others, and the bonds and friendships that you create along the way. So legacy means several things to me at this stage.
Q: Who were your mentors or role models, and how have they shaped your style as captain?
LD: I played on four winning teams, so I am able to draw on elements from all four captains I played under – Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal. They were all very different, but I learned something from each of them. My experiences as a vice captain, in 2018 with Thomas Bjorn and 2021 with Padraig Harrington, were also important in how I prepared for my own captaincy because I got more of an insight into what the role entails compared to when I was playing.
Q: What are the key ingredients for creating unity in Team Europe?
LD: It’s about creating the right culture. That’s something I worked hard on going into Rome and I have done again so far in the lead up to Bethpage. Communication is an important part of that. I try to have regular communication with the players and keep that bond strong throughout the two years. Unity is something we’ve become renowned for as Team Europe and as captain you try to stay true to that but also build on it and move it forward with each Ryder Cup.
Q: How has your perspective on the Ryder Cup evolved from player to captain?
LD: I’m not sure my perspective about the Ryder Cup itself has changed. It has always meant so much to me and I have been immensely proud to represent Europe in each of my appearances. What perhaps has changed is my appreciation of what goes on behind the scenes. As a player, everything is done for you so that you can just turn up and play, whereas being captain, I’ve seen the amount of work that enables that to happen and I have personally had much greater involvement in that process.
Q: What do you think makes the Ryder Cup such a unique and emotionally charged event in sports?
LD: A big part of it is because in the Ryder Cup you are playing for something bigger than yourself. Golf is intrinsically an individual sport, but for the Ryder Cup, we come together as a team. You are playing not just for yourself, but your partner, your family, your continent. That is powerful and it brings out a lot of emotion and passion. At a Tour event or a major, as a spectator, you might root for a certain player, but generally you appreciate good shots and good golf. It’s different at a Ryder Cup. You are for one side or the other. The crowd really make the Ryder Cup special. We had that support on our side in Rome and it certainly helped us, and we know it won’t be the case in New York, but we will be ready to deal with that.
Q: What are you particularly looking forward to for the U.S. edition?
LD: I would say two things. Firstly, being back together in that team environment with the players, and then secondly the challenge that awaits us. That opportunity to do something special if we can win in New York. That is very motivating.
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