Francesco Molinari confirmed as vice captain for 2025 Ryder Cup

Former Open winner Francesco Molinari has been named as Luke Donald's fourth vice captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup. 

Molinari returns to the role having previously been part of Donald's leadership team the last time the biennial matches were played on European soil in 2023. 

Team Europe ran out 16½-11½ winners at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome. 

The 42-year-old Italian's older brother, Edoardo, is also a vice captain and has been hailed in his role as Europe's stats guru. 

Former European captain Jose Maria Olazabal and Denmark's Thomas Bjorn were previously named vice captains. 

Donald has one more vice captaincy vacancy to fill. His counterpart, Keegan Bradley, has named Brandt Snedeker, Jim Furyk, Webb Simpson, Kevin Kisner and Gary Woodland as his vice captains. 

Molinari said: "I'm very happy to be part of the team again. I really enjoyed being part of Luke’s backroom team in Rome and trying to help the players.

“Luke is a very smart, switched on individual. He has been very successful and he is an easy person to work with. It’s been great to see at first hand how much he is putting into being the captain. 

"He did the same two years ago and he’s doing it now. He leads by example so that passion trickles down to the players.

“It is going to be a big challenge at Bethpage. You just have to look at the stats to see how difficult it is to win the Ryder Cup away from home. 

"It hasn't happened that often recently, so it is a big challenge but it is a big opportunity to try to do something that, if it does happen, will be remembered for a long, long time. 

"Everyone will give their best and I am very happy to be able to give my contribution to the team.

“I can't wait to be there. I can’t wait to try to transmit my experience from Medinah to the players. There will be a few of us who were there in 2012. Some still playing and some others like Luke and myself who are now behind the scenes. 

"Medinah still has a special place in my memories, and in my heart, and I would be really happy and really proud to see this generation of players complete something like that."

Donald said Francesco is a huge part of the team. 

He added: "He knows how to win Ryder Cups, having been on three winning teams, and I think that's really important for us. We obviously have a tough task ahead of us trying to win away in New York.

"He has an amazing amount of experience – as a rookie in 2010 with his brother Edoardo, playing at number 12 in the singles against Tiger in 2012 when he secured the half point that meant we won outright, and in 2018 when he became the only European player to go 5-0 in a Ryder Cup.

"I think he brings a very calm head. He is someone who listens a lot and has good ideas. He speaks up when he feels like he needs to."

Europe will attempt to win the Ryder Cup in hostile territory for the first time since 2012 this September. 

Molinari and Donald were both part of the team that triumphed at the Miracle of Medinah when Europe completed an improbable comeback victory in the Sunday singles. 

The Italian secured half a point in his singles match against Tiger Woods to ensure Europe won the Ryder Cup outright 14½-13½.