Ryder Cup: Luke Donald coy on captaincy as he tips 'passionate' Rory McIlroy to be successful future skipper of Team Europe
Rory McIlroy's "passion" for the Ryder Cup would make him a good captain in future, says Luke Donald, the mastermind of back-to-back European wins over USA; Donald and McIlroy to tee it up at DP World India Championship, live on Sky Sports from 7.30am on Thursday
Tuesday 14 October 2025 17:17, UK
Luke Donald remained coy on whether he will captain Team Europe for a third successive Ryder Cup as he backed Rory McIlroy to be a successful skipper in future.
Donald led his continent to a thrilling 15-13 victory over USA at Bethpage Black in September - Europe's first win in the States since the 'Miracle of Medinah' in 2012 - two years after presiding over a 16.5-11.5 triumph in Rome.
The Englishman is only the second Ryder Cup captain, after Tony Jacklin, to win the event home and away and is currently weighing up whether to go again at Adare Manor in Ireland in 2027.
- Tommy Fleetwood: European captaincy in 'good hands'
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Donald - speaking ahead of playing in the DP World India Championship, live on Sky Sports from Thursday - hopes to be involved in the next Ryder Cup in some capacity, while he feels McIlroy's "passion" will help him succeed as a captain down the line.
The 46-year-old said when asked if he will helm Team Europe in County Limerick: "I'm trying to still enjoy this one!
"If I'm not a captain in two years' time and the captain wants me to be there, then I'm sure I would be happy to help him in any way he wanted."
McIlroy loves the Ryder Cup 'more than anything'
On McIlroy, who accrued 3.5 points for Team Europe in New York while facing heavy verbal abuse from a section of the home crowd, Donald added: "He loves the Ryder Cup more than anything.
"He made it quite evident that winning an away Ryder Cup would really be the icing on an amazing year that he had [in winning the Masters for the career Grand Slam].
"He loves what it represents. You've seen the emotion from losing to winning. Anyone that has that passion for a Ryder Cup I think would make a good captain."
McIlroy will join Donald in this week's field in Delhi, with the latter relishing getting back out on the course as a player after his exertions as Ryder Cup captain.
Donald: I've woken up from Ryder Cup dreams
Donald said: "The lead-up to the Ryder Cup, you're spending five or six weeks just thinking about all kinds of different things, partnerships, pairings, the golf course, the gifting.
"There's just so much that goes into it that your mind is kind of clogged.
"I've had many nights where I've woken up with Ryder Cup dreams and things where I had forgotten my radio one night and there's still one game out on the course and I was panicking, trying to get to the game.
"I think coming here, playing a tournament will actually help. It will get my mind more back on what I need to do this week. I'm excited to get back to playing."
Lowry: I have never felt pressure anywhere close to Ryder Cup putt
Shane Lowry speaking to Sky Sports about his crucial putt to retain the Ryder Cup:
"For me to be able to hole that putt at such a crucial moment is very, very special and something I'll have forever. And something I'll be able to dive back into my locker for at some stage when I need it.
"When things are maybe not going my way, or whenever I putt to win a tournament or something, hopefully I'll be able to use that down the line, because I'm not sure I'll ever feel pressure like that again.
"I've been in tough situations in my career, but nothing ever close to that. I honestly can't help but think back on what would have happened if I missed a putt. I would have felt like I let my team-mates down.
"You can let yourself down, no problem. You can deal with that. But you let your team-mates down, let those guys down who worked really hard for you that week and won all those points, it would have been very, very difficult for me.
"So thankfully I didn't. Thankfully I stood up to the plate. As soon as he [Russell Henley] missed his putt, I was in my routine. I do remember everything happening quite quickly, and I tried to slow myself down and tried to work on my breathing a little bit.
"Then when I stood over it, I was like: 'You have no choice but to hit it now'. I think the celebration was just pure relief. I didn't know what to do with myself.
"It's just the most special tournament in the world, honestly it is. I'm just so happy to be a part of it, in any way at all. Thankfully I played a decent part in it this year."
Fleetwood: Ryder Cup is playing for something much bigger than yourself
Tommy Fleetwood speaking to Sky Sports about Europe's stunning Ryder Cup victory in the USA:
"It was such a special week. I'm so lucky to have played a few Ryder Cups now, and I just feel like all of them bring their unique memories from each of those weeks, and this one was so special again.
"It was an amazing story for us that we had so many of us from Rome that came to this one, and just the connection that we all had, the team environment, and then being able to win an away Ryder Cup, how hard and how difficult it is, to be part of that team is something I'm very proud of.
"I really am so interested individually to try and tap into so much of the stuff that we do that one week every two years, and I think our team chemistry, the legacy of Team Europe, and how much that's drilled into us.
"The bond you have, the drive and the motivation to be playing for something much bigger than yourself, and it makes you want to be the absolute best version of yourself.
"Like I said, I've been so lucky to have played four now, and once you've played one, you never want to not play one.
"We all know that that time will come eventually where we're not on the golf course representing Europe, so the times that we do have it, we just have immense pride in carrying that legacy, which has been going for a long time and will go on for much longer."
Watch the DP World India Championship live on Sky Sports from Thursday to Sunday. Coverage of day one begins at 7.30am on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour and more contract-free with NOW.
