Tommy Fleetwood makes Luke Donald 2027 Ryder Cup captain claim

Tommy Fleetwood believes the ball is in Luke Donald's court as to whether he fancies a crack at Ryder Cup history in Ireland. 

Donald, 47, became the first captain since his English compatriot Tony Jacklin in 1989 to win consecutive Ryder Cup matches on Sunday. 

That was after Europe defeated United States 15-13 in their own rowdy backyard at Bethpage Black in New York. 

"Two more years, two more years," rung out on the 1st tee from all 12 European players and in the gallery from visiting fans. 

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Donald has since told reporters he is going to let the dust settle in the aftermath of a second straght Ryder Cup win before making a decision.

He's not ruled it out at least. 

But do some of his players know a bit more than he's letting out right now? 

The blue and yellow became the first away team to win the Ryder Cup since Europe last achieved the feat at Medinah in 2012.

Donald has now set up a shot at outright history - should he want to take it on - at Adare Manor in 2027. 

No captain has ever won three Ryder Cup contests in a row. 

That's not just since the Ryder Cup became a contest between United States and Europe in 1979 either. 

This would be a record dating all the way back to the start of the Ryder Cup, which first began as a contest between USA and Great Britain in 1927.

Here at GolfMagic, we think the lure of a potential record will be too much for Donald and his wife Diane to turn down. 

Read our latest feature on Donald here

Tommy Fleetwood, who top scored with 4 points from sessions at the 2025 Ryder Cup, was pressed on the subject of 2027 captaincy today ahead of this week's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews. 

Fleetwood believes the ball is in Donald's court as Ryder Cup Europe will give him that option. 

But other options are waiting in the wings should Donald decide to pass.

"Yeah, we'll see what happens, I think the ball is probably in Luke's court and I think he's earned that," said Fleetwood.

"Justin [Rose] is going to be playing in the Ryder Cup when he's 102 years old, maybe. Like we might have to wait awhile for Justin to be a captain.

"And Francesco [Molinari], I spoke to Francesco about it numerous times. I think the respect he has for his peers and the players, his accomplishments and his experience, I think goes a long way to being a Ryder Cup captain. 

"It's up to the individual if they want to put their names forward and see where it goes from there.

"Whether it's Luke or anybody else, I think we have an amazing blueprint as Team Europe, and I think we have amazing captains lying in wait that will do an amazing job. We'll see where we go in the future. 

"But I think we are in good hands for a long time."

Donald is priced up at odds of 6/4 with some bookmakers to keep hold of the captain's armband at Adare Manor, Ireland, in 2027. 

Other names in the hat for the next captaincy include Justin Rose, Francesco Molinari and his brother Edoardo Molinari.

The latter is someone Matt Fitzpatrick believes is the unsung hero of this current European Ryder Cup team.

"To me Edoardo is No. 1 in the business by a complete mile," Fitzpatrick told reporters ahead of the Dunhill Links where he is playing alongside his father Russell at the Home of Golf. 

"How he's helped Luke and the vice captains and how he's shaped the team, pairings, qualification, has been outstanding in my opinion. I think there's a lot of credit that needs to go to Edoardo as well." 

Who do you reckon will become 2027 European Ryder Cup captain?

Will it be Donald again or someone new?

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