Ryder Cup 2027: Why is Luke Donald Team Europe's captain again and what led to historic third stint for Adare Manor?
Why is Luke Donald taking on a third spell as Ryder Cup captain? What led Donald to a return for Team Europe? What challenges could he face against Team USA at Adare Manor? Donald spoke to Sky Sports after being named Europe's Ryder Cup captain for the 2027 edition in Ireland
Wednesday 4 March 2026 16:48, UK
Luke Donald could have called time on his Ryder Cup career with his status as a European great already secured, but the former world No 1 is back for more and targeting further history.
Donald won all four of his Ryder Cup appearances as a player before masterminding back-to-back victories as a captain, beating Team USA 16.5-11.5 in Rome in 2023 and guiding them to an away success in New York last September.
Even Donald himself believed his captaincy was over after that historic 15-13 win at Bethpage Black, where he joined Tony Jacklin as the only Europeans to captain back-to-back Ryder Cup victories, although has now been confirmed for a third stint in the role.
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Donald will lead Team Europe at the 2027 contest at Adare Manor in Ireland, live next September on Sky Sports, where he will become the first three-time captain since Bernard Gallacher and have the chance to become the first captain ever to win three consecutive Ryder Cups.
"I didn't imagine this third time [as captain] would come," Donald admitted. "Celebrating on that Sunday night in New York after a pressure-packed week, in a tough environment, I thought maybe my job was done. But maybe there is a little more story to tell."
A risk for Donald after being 'done' as captain?
Europe's 2025 victory on American soil came after building a record-breaking lead over the first two days, with Donald described as 'Europe's greatest ever captain' by counterpart Keegan Bradley and receiving widespread praise from his players for the victory.
"Celebrating Sunday night in New York, it was as far away from my mind as could be," Donald exclusively told Sky Sports. "I really thought I was done at two. I really needed some time to enjoy this one in New York and then think about it.
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"I really didn't start that process until probably a month ago, in all honesty. It's an amazing privilege to be able to do it once. Twice is great, but three times is really, really, really special."
Donald had already ended the run of home dominance in the biennial contest by securing a first away win - for either team - since 2012 and just the third of the 21st century, with the Englishman giving himself time to decide whether to return.
"I just felt like I'd proven myself," Donald explained. "I didn't take a lot of time after Rome to really dive back into the challenge of trying to win an away Ryder Cup in New York, in a tough environment.
"That was really the goal, just to do back-to-back, and to have that opportunity was incredible. Obviously, after the success of New York, I felt like maybe it was time to give that opportunity to someone else."
How Donald's wife and players backed European return
Donald was initially reluctant to return for a potential three-peat, but support from his wife, Diane, and his winning team encouraged him to take on captaincy again for the centenary edition.
"It's funny for New York, she [Diane] was kind of 'we've done Rome, it went great, you know, let's just leave it at that'," Donald explained. "I was eager to do the away one, whereas she was a little bit hesitant.
"This time it was sort of the reverse - I was pretty hesitant, but she really wanted to do it. I think just because doing a home one is special - you get to have a little bit more hand in how everything works out and turns out."
On players encouraging him to take a third spell as captain, he added: "Tommy [Fleetwood] has been pretty incessant! Even before we won in New York, he was like 'don't worry, gaffer - he likes to call me gaffer - you'll do it a third time.
"I had a few glasses of wine with Shane [Lowry] and Rory [McIlroy] a few weeks after the victory and they were trying to egg me on. At that point, I really wasn't too interested.
"To have the opportunity again to do it with the backing from the players and my family, that was ultimately what led me to decide to do it again."
Will continuity continue for Donald and Team Europe?
Donald was initially only handed Ryder Cup captaincy in 2022 when Henrik Stenson was stripped of the role for joining LIV Golf, although will now become only the fourth person to captain Europe in three or more consecutive Ryder Cups.
"I certainly don't take it [captaincy] for granted," Donald insisted. "Hopefully I've laid some foundations for future captains as well to give our Team Europe a little bit of an edge going forward - that's all I've ever tried to do.
"My job is to try and create an environment for these players to play at the level they know they can play, connecting them to why we play and giving them some reasons why I think they can win.
"Obviously they've had to do all the work on the golf course and they've played great golf. It's nice to have had the success we've had. I'm concentrating on this one, I will give it my best shot and hopefully we can create some history at Adare Manor."
On whether he will stick with the same backroom staff, Donald said: "The continuity over the last couple of Ryder Cups has been great. I haven't got to the stage of selecting vice-captains yet.
"I've had a few conversations with Dodo [Edoardo Molinari]. I wouldn't be surprised if he's not involved and maybe some of the others too, but time will tell."
Does Rahm pose early challenge for Donald?
Donald will confirm the qualification process for the 2027 team in the coming months, having retained 11 of his 12-man line-up from the Rome victory - and four of his five vice-captains - for their New York win.
Jon Rahm's participation currently remains in question due to him having "no intention" of paying the financial punishments for breaching DP World Tour membership guidelines by featuring in LIV events, although Donald is keen to keep the Spaniard involved.
"Well, I haven't talked to Jon [Rahm] and obviously I plan to speak to him down the road, to just get his feelings," Donald explained. "Sometimes messages can be lost without having that conversation.
"I have a great relationship with Jon and he's been an amazing Ryder Cup player and a teammate these last two Ryder Cups. He ultimately has to do what he thinks is best for him and I respect that.
"I look forward to having a chat with him and seeing where we are. Obviously, it goes without saying, I would love for him to be available for the Ryder Cup. I've got 16, 17 months to go, so a lot can happen."
Will Woods be the man trying to stop Donald?
The PGA of America has yet to confirm who will captain Team USA in the 2027 contest, with Tiger Woods firm favourite to succeed Keegan Bradley after turning down the opportunity last time around.
"Tiger is someone that moves the needle in anything he does and that's great," Donald admitted. "Obviously, I can't comment because we don't know who that [Team USA's captain] is yet.
"His name was obviously floated two years ago and it ended up being someone else. Whoever it is, it'll be great. My job is to really concentrate on our team and what we do.
"Whoever the captain is in the US doesn't really change my plan and how I go about it. We'll look forward to seeing whoever it is."
Team Europe have won the last seven editions of the Ryder Cup on home soil, including when Donald won three of his matches the last time it was held in Ireland in 2006. If that run is extended at Adare Manor, Donald's remarkable Ryder Cup legacy will have reached historic heights.
Watch the next two Ryder Cups, including the 2027 edition at Adare Manor in Ireland, exclusively live on Sky Sports. Stream the DP World Tour and more with no contract.
