Luke Donald on Poulter and Stenson? "No captain has had to deal with this"

Ryder Cup Europe captain Luke Donald has reacted to the comments made by LIV Golf players Ian Poulter and Sweden's Henrik Stenson.

Ben Smith

20 Jan 2023

Luke Donald on Poulter and Stenson? "No captain has had to deal with this"

Luke Donald says he's "not too worried" what his European side will look like in Rome as he reacted to Ian Poulter's suggestion he may snub the Ryder Cup after a year of acrimony.

Donald, 45, replaced Henrik Stenson as Ryder Cup Europe captain in August following the Swede's remarkable heel-turn to LIV Golf for a deal reportedly worth $40m.

Once the Englishman got the nod he sent a not-so-subtle dig towards the 2016 Open champion by claiming he "wasn't going to do a Henrik" and vowed to see the job through.

The days are ticking away quickly ahead of the 44th Ryder Cup and Donald still doesn't know what will happen with the LIV players.

The fate of the so-called "rebels" will be determined in February at sports arbitration hearing.

GolfDigest have reported that sources close to the DP World Tour believe the LIV players will prevail, thus allowing them to continue participating in events on the European-based circuit and earn Ryder Cup points.

A number of LIV Golf players participated in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links.

Those players included the aforementioned Stenson and Poulter, alongside Lee Westwood.

Stenson insisted he had no regrets although he revealed the past six months have been particularly difficult.

Westwood questioned the future of the DP World Tour and took aim at their strategic alliance with the PGA Tour.

And Poulter was confident he wasn't going to receive one of Donald's six picks.

Donald told Sky Sports of the current state of play:

"I don't think any other captains in past Ryder Cups have had to deal with this situation.

"Hopefully in a few weeks time from my standpoint I'll have a bit more clarity on what is going to happen, who I can pick, who I can't pick and we will make it [a decision] there. My goal in September is to have a group of guys unified and playing at their most.

"I am looking forward to the guys wanting to be here, trying to earn points and make that team.

"The changing of the guard happens all the time and I am not too worried. Having watched all these players, and the 20 guys last week [Hero Cup], tremendous talent on display. They are good golfers, equally good enough to compete and win a Ryder Cup in September. We have a good depth of field."

The 2023 Ryder Cup will be played at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome.

It will be the 44th match between Europe and the U.S.

The U.S. battered Europe at the 2021 Ryder Cup, winning 19-9.

Next page: Spain emerges as favourite to host 2031 Ryder Cup