Europe Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald knows playing the USA on American soil is a “different animal” – but he is ready for the “amazing challenge” later this month.
Donald steered the European team to a resounding 16.5-11.5 win over a shell-shocked USA team in Rome two years ago.
He has now been asked to attempt that feat away from home, when the two teams lock horns at Bethpage Black in New York from September 26-28, 2025.
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Donald has finalised his team to take on Keegan Bradley’s USA outfit, with Rory McIlroy, Robert MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Højgaard, and Tyrrell Hatton all securing automatic places in Team Europe’s line-up.
Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Ludvig Åberg, Viktor Hovland, and Matt Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, were handed captain’s picks having shone for Europe in the Rome victory.
Lastly, talisman Jon Rahm, who has three previous Ryder Cup appearances and two major wins to his name, also makes the team, giving it a very familiar feel to the one that dominated the Americans in 2023.
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Different challenge
Donald told a press conference on Monday: “It [an away Ryder Cup] is a different challenge.
“Obviously, having the chance to do it again doesn’t mean we’re going to do the same things we did in Rome. That’s about implementing new techniques.
“I’ve really tried to look hard at exactly what this will require.
“I’m very aware that we have lost three of the last four away Ryder Cups by significant margins, and it’s a tough challenge. I’ve tried everything I can to give our team the best opportunity.”
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Amazingly proud
Europe will be chasing only a fifth away win in Ryder Cup history – and a first victory since 2012, when Donald played a starring role in the ‘Miracle of Medinah’.
But the European captain is confident his players are in fine form and up for the battle.
Donald added on Sky Sports: “I feel amazingly proud of these guys and how well they have played.
“Obviously, [we have] a lot of continuity from Rome. It’s unusual to have so many people coming back, but [that] just shows how good these players are.
“Even though we have a lot of continuity, this is a different animal, to play away in America. We understand how difficult that is.
“I’ve looked at it from very different angles to try and get us prepared for this amazing challenge ahead.”
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