Luke Donald has been confirmed as the new Europe Ryder Cup captain, replacing Henrik Stenson who made the decision to step down from the position.
Earlier this year, Stenson was named as the skipper for the 2023 event in Italy, the Swede acknowledging at the time that it had been "a dream" of his to lead the team.
However, last month, the Swede opted to accept a lucrative contract with LIV Golf, the controversial new tour which has been financially backed by Saudi Arabia.
Stenson went some way to justifying his decision as he won on his debut appearance over the weekend, claiming the £3.3m prize for first place in Bedminster.
Nevertheless, the Ryder Cup will progress without his presence, with Donald being handed the reins ahead of going head-to-head with Zach Johnson's United States team.
So excited and truly honoured to be named European Ryder Cup Captain, I'm really looking forward to the next 14 months & getting my team ready for Rome. pic.twitter.com/KnqaLxpfL1
— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) August 1, 2022
The Englishman is no stranger to the event, initially featuring on four sides as a player between 2044 and 2012, his final outing being part of the team which prevailed in Medinah.
Since then, the 46-year-old has been an assistant to the teams led by Thomas Bjorn and Padriag Harrington in 2018 and 2021 respectively.
In recent years, Donald has spent much of his time competing on the PGA Tour, playing just five DP World Tour events over the past 24 months.
However, Donald may consider teeing it up at more competitions on this side of the pond, particularly given that the PGA Tour and DP World Tour have strengthened their relationship on the back of the emergence of LIV Golf.
Darren Plant
