Pádraig Harrington feels that Luke Donald would be the perfect fit if he was asked to lead Team Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup in Bethpage Black.
Donald led Europe to victory over the USA at Marco Simone last month and in the celebrations, led by Rory McIlroy, the players were chanting ‘two more years’ ahead of the next instalment of the biennial contest on US soil where Europe are without a win since the Miracle at Medinah in 2012.
Donald served as a vice captain to Harrington at Whistling Straits in 2021 and the three-time major winner feels he would do another great job if called upon in two years to lead Europe as their first repeat captain since Bernard Gallacher (1991, 93, 95).
“I knew Luke would do a great job. He was my vice captain and he was great in the job and I was vice captain with him before so yeah I was a I wasn’t surprised by anything Luke did and he’d be a great captain again in Bethpage,” Harrington said.
“I’m surprised anybody wants us of course if he wants it I think I think the players certainly want them and I think everybody would support.”
Since winning at Medinah, Europe have been comfortably beaten on US soil in 2016 and 2021 with Harrington overseeing a record-breaking defeat in Wisconsin. In total, Europe have won just once away from home since 2004. USA are yet to win away from home since 1993 while eight of the last nine Ryder Cups have been won by the home side.
“It’s just difficult to win. It’s just difficult being an away captain but I think Bethpage would be the toughest one ever,” added Harrington.
Justin Rose came out earlier this week with a ringing endorsement of Donald while also stating himself that he would love to play under him at Bethpage Black in 2025.
At the winners press conference, Europe’s top scorer, McIlroy backed Donald for a second captaincy and boldly stated that Europe would win in Bethpage.
“I’ve said this for the last probably six or seven years to anyone that will listen: I think one of the biggest accomplishments in golf right now is winning an away Ryder Cup,” McIlroy said.
“And that’s what we’re going to do at Bethpage.”
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