Ryder Cup: Luke Donald makes up his mind on 2027 European captaincy

Ryder Cup Europe have confirmed Luke Donald will remain as the captain for next year's matches and go for a historic three-peat. 

Donald accepted the position in unusual circumstances in 2023 but is now considered one of Europe's greatest skippers after masterminding back-to-back victories in Italy and the United States. 

The former world number one, 48, was named the captain after former Open champion Henrik Stenson was stripped of the role following his decision to join LIV Golf. 

Europe regained the Ryder Cup in dramatic fashion in 2023 with a 16½-11½ victory at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. 

It led to immediate calls for Donald to remain in the position as Europe attempted to win the Ryder Cup in hostile territory for the first time since the 2008 "miracle" at Medinah. 

Donald's Europe triumphed at Bethpage Black in New York last September, holding off an astonishing Team USA fightback on the final day to win 15-13. 

Europe led by seven points going into the Sunday singles but Ireland's Shane Lowry sank a crucial putt on the 18th hole of his match against Russell Henley to retain the Cup. 

England's Tyrrell Hatton put the cherry on the cake by defeating Collin Morikawa to ensure Europe won the contest outright. 

Victory for Europe was all the more satisfying after several players - including Rory McIlroy - were subjected to horrific verbal abuse by some spectators. 

Donald, who described the nail-biting final day as the "most stressful 12 hours" of his life, became only the second European captain - after Tony Jacklin in 1985 and 1987 - to win back-to-back Ryder Cups. 

It was widely assumed that Donald would step aside but the Englishman has decided to attempt to create more history by becoming the first captain to win three in a row. 

"The last two Ryder Cups have meant a lot to me and my family," said Donald. 

"I didn't imagine this third time would come. Celebrating on that Sunday night in New York after a pressure packed week in a tough environment, I thought maybe my job was done. But maybe there is a little more story to tell.

"This Ryder Cup captaincy journey has given me so much focus, so much purpose and it is something I don’t take for granted. 

"It's a real privilege and I am certainly looking forward to another home Ryder Cup.

"History is obviously important to me. As a team, as Ryder Cup Europe, we all play for history. 

"We talk about it a lot, about the guys who paved the way for us and the responsibility we have to inspire next generations. 

"But I don't think I have ever thought about history through a personal lens. 

"I just try to enjoy the journey and the day-to-day work to create an environment that gives the players the opportunity for success. That is what I focus on."

Meanwhile, the PGA of America is yet to confirm who will take the reins from Keegan Bradley. 

Tiger Woods has been offered the role but recently claimed he was worried about juggling all of his other responsibilities to give the captaincy justice. 

What has Tiger Woods said?

Woods has been vague about whether or not he will be the next Team USA captain. 

He turned down the captaincy in 2025 and the PGA of America made the surprise choice to go with Bradley, making him the youngest captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. 

Bradley has placed on record his desire to have another crack at the whip but the governing body are desperate to tie Woods down. 

Woods also has close ties with JP McManus, the Irish billionaire who owns Adare Manor. 

Speaking to reporters ahead of the Genesis Invitational, Woods said he was unsure whether he would juggle the captaincy alongside his duties on the PGA Tour. 

Woods is the chairman of the future competition committee, charged with re-shaping the Tour and how it operates. 

Initial details of what is planned are expected to be unveiled later this month before The Players Championship.

"I'm trying to figure out what we’re trying to do with our tour," Woods said. 

"That's been driving me hours upon hours every day and trying to figure out if I can actually do our Team USA and our players and everyone that's going to be involved in the Ryder Cup, justice with my time."

Woods has reportedly been given a soft deadline to decide before the 2026 Masters. 

Team USA have no shortage of potential candidates should Woods turn it down again. 

Brandt Snedeker, Fred Couples, Webb Simpson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker and Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar are all understood to be on the shortlist.