Roberts: Ryder Cup Sunday wasn't pretty but I'd invite Luke Donald back in a heartbeat

Where do you want your statue Luke Donald? Having just led Europe to a monumental 15-13 victory at Bethpage Black at the 2025 Ryder Cup in New York, marking the first away win in the contest since Medinah in 2012, the Englishman now gets my vote as the greatest captain ever. 

The final day was a lot more nervy than many anticipated starting out with a huge seven-point lead, and at one stage on Sunday I even considred deleting this entire feature. 

But Donald's men kept their composure down the closing stretch and stumbled over the line for a deserved two-point triumph in USA.

Donald, 47, has now become the first skipper since his compatriot Tony Jacklin in 1989 to lift the Ryder Cup in consecutive contests. 

Yes, what Jacklin did in the 80s was special and very much laid the foundations for the European Ryder Cup team today, but the biennial dust-up against Team USA is now bigger, better, louder and as we all found out this week, even more hostile than ever before.

At least when it's in New York...

I take nothing away from Jacklin's captaincy, leading Europe to their first ever away victory (15-13) at Muirfield Village in 1987 before retaining the cup with a 14-14 tie at The Belfry in 1989, but for me, Donald has now nosed ahead in the all-time Ryder Cup captain debate after valiant five and two-point victories.

Perhaps I'm a little biased because well, I was crawling around in diapers in the late 80s, but Donald's captaincy that I have experienced first-hand now in Rome and again this week in New York has been class personified. 

Even though it did nearly end in tears. 

"That was the most stressful 12 hours of my life," said a relieved Donald after Shane Lowry secured half a point on the 18th green to ensure Europe retained the trophy. 

An hour later, Tyrrell Hatton and Bob Macintyre added two half points each to bring the scoreline to 15-13 in favour of the visitors, something I predicted for you in our latest golf betting tips feature at odds of 12/1. 

Incredibly, Ludvig Aberg was the only European player to win a match on Sunday.

But Europe had already done the heavy lifting over the first two days and four sessions, all thanks to Donald once again choosing the perfect combination of foursomes and fourballs partnerships as he did in Rome.

Donald quite simply exudes confidence every time he speaks with the media. 

He is unwavered in his delivery, with every answer meticulously thought about and well crafted. 

I never once got that impression with Keegan Bradley for Team USA this week, or with Zach Johnson in 2023. 

Bradley made a lot of mistakes at Bethpage, and so did the PGA of America. 

Yes, Donald was somewhat fortunate to lead a team that largely remained unchanged at Bethpage, but he still had to get the job done. 

Even the one replacement was identical in a different Hojgaard twin. 

Donald just gets what it takes to be a fantastic European Ryder Cup captain and his leadership appears to transcend through to his players. They trust him, and he trusts them, even if they did put him through the wringer on Sunday. 

The special European Ryder Cup bond has always been strong ever since the days of Jacklin and late great Seve Ballesteros.

But today it feels stronger than ever, and Seve would be so proud...

Winning an away Ryder Cup is an extremely tough task, and it's something McIlroy has spoken about multiple times this season. 

McIlroy said in Rome that Europe would deliver at Bethpage Black, and they duly did. 

But to achieve it in such manner, all while playing through horrendous abuse and insults from a minority of the home crowd, it was very much a win for the ages. 

Having answered his Bethpage assignment, the next question on everyone's lips is whether Donald will stick or twist.

No captain has ever won three Ryder Cups on the bounce, so could Donald possibly be tempted to achieve the feat at Adare Manor? 

"Two more years, two more years..." shouted out all 12 players and European fans in the crowd during Donald's victory speech.

He was then posed the question as to whether he could remain the captain in Ireland. 

"I don't think my heart can take two more years but we'll see," said Donald.

Sunday at Bethpage wasn't pretty, but I know I'd invite Donald back in a heartbeat...

During Europe's Ryder Cup press conference, Lowry dangled a carrot some more.

"Let's do it again in Ireland (laughter)," said Lowry, to which Donald, who was sat beside him, replied: "No comment."

"I just want to enjoy tonight," he added.

Much of the latest talk around the 2027 captaincy has been for Justin Rose, who has been a key asset on both of Donald's teams, to enter the hotseat for the first time in his career. 

When I was at the British Masters at The Belfry last month, former members of Jacklin's '87 team Sir Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam and Sam Torrance all came down on Rose as the next man for the job. 

The quartet of golf legends each consider Rose would be also at the right age - 47 years old just like Donald today - with which to fulfil the role of European Ryder Cup captain. 

But given Rose's excellent performance at Bethpage, where he took 2 points from three sessions, I think the juices could very well still be flowing for the former US Open champion to make an eighth career team appearance.

I also think Rose would be more than happy to wait another two years at Hazetine in order to let Donald have a crack at even more history. 

Donald will of course let the dust settle on this monumental achievement first before making any rash decisions.

He will also need time to sit down with his wife Diana, who has played a key management role off the course in both 2023 and 2025 wins. 

Donald knows all too well that the captaincy takes up a lot of his family's time, and it's very much an 18-month job with all the planning involved these days. 

But I believe the lure of an outright record three-peat will be too much for Donald to turn down at Adare Manor in 2027, and I think every European fan would welcome that decision.