Luke Donald is set to discuss the possibility of leading the Ryder Cup team for the third time in 2027 with officials from the DP World Tour in Dubai this week. Shane Lowry, known for his triumph at Bethpage Black, has encouraged Donald to continue as captain for the upcoming event in Ireland.
As the former top-ranked player globally, Donald guided Europe to a remarkable victory in Long Island last September, following their win in Rome in 2021. Notably, no European captain has achieved three victories, with only Tony Jacklin and Bernard Gallacher accomplishing the feat more than twice.
Currently competing in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Donald, aged 48, will engage in discussions with Guy Kinnings, the CEO of DP World, to deliberate on the Ryder Cup captaincy. A decision from Europe regarding the captaincy is expected in the coming months, prompting Donald to consider his options.
Expressing his thoughts on the matter, Donald stated, “I will sit down for a chat with Guy this week just to see where I am. I kinda know what the job entails but just to see what they are looking for. Just a chat. I have got a couple more months to decide. Usually they announce it sometime in March. It is a little bit more work at home.”
Lowry, who played a pivotal role in securing a half point to retain the Ryder Cup in New York, believes that Donald is the rightful candidate for the captaincy. He acknowledged the challenges involved but highlighted the unique opportunity for Donald to achieve a historic third win in a row.
In response to the support from his fellow players, Donald shared, “A few of the players have obviously expressed they’d love me to come back. I see Rory (McIlroy), and I see Shane and Fitzy (Matt Fitzpatrick) and some of those guys in Florida, quite a lot.”
Should Donald opt against leading the team again, potential candidates like Francesco Molinari or Justin Rose are being considered for the prestigious role.