Luke Donald will once again captain Team Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup on the back of last month’s victory in Rome, and the Englishman could well face off with Tiger Woods
Luke Donald has opened up on the potential of facing off with Tiger Woods at the 2025 Ryder Cup, after the former world No. 1 was reappointed captain of Team Europe.
On Wednesday, Donald was called up to the European team as captain after his continent defeated Italy 16.5–11.5 at the Marco Simone stadium in Rome. In addition, the Englishman decided to return in 2025 after the victory, making history as the first back-to-back European captain since Bernard Gallacher in 1995.
Although Donald was able to begin his captaincy tenure with a Ryder Cup victory, his rematch against their American rivals on foreign soil will undoubtedly prove to be a more difficult test.
Team USA will also be eager to avenge their crushing loss under Zach Johnson, and Woods is one player who is predicted to spearhead the comeback. “We’ll have to wait and see,” Donald remarked when discussing the possibility of facing the 15-time major champion. “Tiger has been mentioned as a possible candidate.”
You would think that at some point, he would captain the Ryder Cup; if that’s now, fantastic; if not, great. In my career, I’ll have to play with Tiger a lot. I’m really impressed with what he’s accomplished in the game.
I’m not really trying to think about it because it’s something that’s a little bit beyond my control. When that occurs, we’ll deal with it. But I’m excited about the challenge of captaining us again, whether it’s Tiger or someone else. Regardless of the US captain, there is a strong will to win.
Undoubtedly, having an 82-time PGA Tour winner leading an American team would make winning a Ryder Cup away from home even more difficult, but Donald is more than up to the challenge after winning in the Italian capital last month. “Being a captain away from home is undoubtedly a difficult job,” he said.
But throughout my career, I have never shied away from challenges, and this is exactly the kind of thing that drives me. I’m eager to bring a second 12-person team to Bethpage in 2025. Rory McIlroy, who led his teammates in chanting “two more years” towards Donald after the victory in Rome, is one man who will be happy to see the Englishman back.
Donald’s European setup in 2023 was bolstered by McIlroy, who appears to be planning a comeback after sending a stern warning to his American competitors last month. “I believe that winning a Ryder Cup away is one of the biggest achievements in golf right now,” McIlroy remarked. “And at Bethpage, that is what we are going to do.”
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