Former Ryder Cup hero Jamie Donaldson has become the latest European golfer to endorse Luke Donald for a third term as captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.
Donald joined Tony Jacklin as the only captains to lead Europe to back to back victories in the biennial contest. Donald oversaw a comfortable win in Rome and guided Europe to a first away triumph since 2012 at Bethpage Black. He has been heavily tipped to stay in the hot seat next year as the continent look to make it three on the spin.
Donaldson, who clinched the winning point for Europe in Gleneagles in 2014 when Ireland’s Paul McGinley was the captain is backing the former world number one for a third stint.
“It’s maybe surprised me a little bit how well he has done, but the fella is just so calm,” he told SportsBoom.com.
“And people that have that calmness about them tend to make good captains. I remember watching him in that first one in Rome and being very impressed.”
“Oh, it’ll be bouncing. Absolutely bouncing. The crowd in Ireland are always incredible, everywhere you do.”
“So, they’ll have that support, which is obviously a lot different to what happened at Bethpage. But you still need that clear head. To think correctly when it’s all going off. And Luke has got that.
“I saw him and I saw Zach Johnson, and I just thought, we’re one-up here. Luke’s interviews were just so calm and collected, like he knew exactly what he was doing.
“I wouldn’t say Zach looked like a rabbit in the headlights because he’s a major winner, he’s a great player. He’s a double winner – and he won the two best ones (Masters and Open), but it just didn’t look as calm and as well thought out. Luke just looked like he had every angle covered.”
Welshman Donaldson has some fond memories of playing golf in Ireland having won the 2012 Irish Open in Royal Portrush and he expects a carnival atmosphere at Adare Manor next year.
“The crowd in Ireland are always incredible, everywhere you go. So, they’ll have that support, which is obviously a lot different to what happened at Bethpage. But you still need that clear head. To think correctly when it’s all going off. And Luke has got that.
“Paul McGinley, my captain at Gleneagles, was the same. He left me out of the opening matches and I was headless, because I was playing so well before the event and in praise.
“But he just calmly explained it and told me to get ready for the afternoon. And I was. It’s like a football manager’s role, you’ve got to try to keep your squad happy, and everyone who is on a Ryder Cup team is a good player who is used to deciding things for themselves. In the Ryder Cup you’re suddenly part of a team.”
Leave a comment