Luke Donald may end up being remembered as the greatest Ryder Cup captain Europe has ever had.
Donald took on the job in 2023 with little time to prepare but still led Europe to a dominant win over Team USA in Rome. He then made history by becoming the first European captain to win an away Ryder Cup in over a decade with a statement victory in New York.
Looking ahead to 2027 at Adare Manor, there’s growing speculation about whether Donald will return for a third stint as captain. While he hasn’t given a clear answer yet, it’s expected that his decision will come soon.
If Donald decides not to continue, one strong option would be Francesco Molinari. The Italian has played an important part in Europe’s recent success and is already familiar with the team setup.
Molinari has shown interest in taking on the role and recently shared his thoughts on whether Donald should step aside after what has already been an incredible run as captain.
Francesco Molinari backs Luke Donald to stay on, despite interest in captaincy
Molinari, who remains unbeaten in Ryder Cup appearances as both a player and vice-captain, has made it clear he’d accept the captaincy if asked. But even with his own interest in the role, he’s also backing Donald to stay on and has even said he hopes Donald continues beyond just one more cycle.
Speaking to Today’s Golfer, Molinari didn’t hold back about his feelings: “Obviously it’s something you don’t really turn down if you get asked. Going back to what I was telling you about the group, I think we’re all waiting and hoping for a positive answer from Luke.
“At the moment, I think we’ll just keep it at that, and hopefully he commits to another two years. I can see for him six years would be a lot of time, but hopefully he can do two more.”
Team Europe have built their identity around this kind of attitude. It’s a side where the team comes first. Molinari isn’t pushing for anything; instead, he wants whatever is best for Europe. And right now that probably means Donald stays in charge.
Bernard Gallacher was the last man to be captain in three straight Ryder Cups
If Donald agrees to return for a third time, he’d be the first since Bernard Gallacher in the 1990s to do so. The Ryder Cup had only just started to gain mainstream popularity back then, with two-time captain Seve Ballesteros helping propel it into the sporting giant it is today. Since then, captains have usually only taken charge for one tournament before stepping aside.
Back-to-back wins in 1985 and 1987 were followed by a tie at The Belfry in 1989, and Jacklin went unbeaten throughout his entire tenure. Now, with more structure and expectations around what it takes to lead a Ryder Cup team, captains rarely stay on for more than one event.
The job has become far more demanding than it used to be. More players are involved, media coverage has expanded massively, and public interest continues to grow every year. Managing all of that takes up nearly every moment of a captain’s life.
This was one reason why Rory McIlroy doubted Keegan Bradley could handle being a playing captain — managing both roles seemed too much. It also explains why Donald may not want to commit again after giving so much already.
Then again, he seems very well suited for the role and may feel like there’s still work left to do. If he decides to stay on, Europe would welcome him back without hesitation.
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