Ryder Cup winner explains "disappointment and sadness" with Luke Donald decision

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald opted for continuity when he selected his wildcards and backroom staff for the 2025 showdown. 

The Englishman, 47, will have a largely unchanged team next week at Bethpage Black, with Rasmus Hojgaard replacing his twin brother Nicolai in the line-up.

Elsewhere, Donald has also decided to retain Jose Maria Olazabal, Thomas Bjorn, stats guru Edoardo 'Dodo' Molinari and his older brother Francesco as vice-captains. 

Sweden's Alex Noren - who prevailed last week at Wentworth - is the only new addition to the leadership team. 

Noren, 43, has replaced Nicolas Colsaerts and the big Belgian is not happy about the omission. 

Though he stressed in comments to the Sky Sports Golf podcast he doesn't hold a grudge against the former World No.1. 

"Yeah, very disappointed, because it's a competition that I live for that has basically been the only thing that will get me out of bed for the last couple of years," he told the pod. 

"Extremely disappointed, yes, but the captain is in charge. There are no hard feelings to have about the decision the captain makes. 

"Also, because the respect of the competition and the respect of who is representing us every two years, I would always back them.

"Yes, I would have loved to be there and more than that I would have loved to help. It's the fact that I'm not able to help that I'm disappointed and sad about."

Colsaerts will be involved in covering the Ryder Cup for the channel. "At the same time, I'm going for a couple of days," he said. 

"I'm going to mingle a little bit with them early in the week and then come back and work with Sky Sports on the build-up shows on Saturday and Sunday.

"I would always back the team. I would always wish them good luck. 

“I would always think the world about the guys that are representing us, and I hope that we keep the Cup."

New York crowd will "give stick to their own"

Colsaerts said the European team is under no illusion over just how difficult it will be to become the first team to win on away soil since 2012.  

"The challenge is different," Colsaerts said. "Because you're going to have to work more as a close-knit [group] because of the crowd that you're going to play in front of. 

"From what I see from the outside, it looks like they're doing everything they need to do to be ready for next week."

There has plenty of speculation as to whether some New Yorkers will overstep the mark. 

Colsaerts appears to believe the players will have the ability to tune it out. 

Sir Nick Faldo recently claimed the ticket prices will prevent some turning up to Bethpage Black simply to shout personal abuse. 

"The first day [in 2012] I heard nothing because I was in the zone," Colsaerts said as he reflected on his debut at Medinah. 

"I just worried about what was happening within my match and I realised that the only thing that mattered is really those four golf balls.

"It's the only thing that matters. Whatever 'Joe' is shouting, after he's had six beers on the sixth fairway, has literally no impact on the game. 

"It does, but it shouldn't have – it's an outside element.

"I think the New York crowd is a different crowd that loves entertainment. 

"They have no problem telling you how they feel, but at the same time, I feel that the New York crowd will have no problem giving stick to their own."

The 2025 Ryder Cup will be played over 26-28 September. 

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