Just 12 days after removing Henrik Stenson from his captaincy, the European Ryder Cup team has already announced a replacement.
Previous reports were confirmed on Monday morning when four-time Ryder Cupper Luke Donald was officially named as the captain for Team Europe for the 2023 matches at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club near Rome, Sept. 29-Oct 1.
The 44-year-old Englishman previously represented Europe in 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2012 and has five PGA Tour wins and six DP World Tour wins under his belt. The former World No. 1 also served as a vice captain in the past two Ryder Cups. Donald is set to be the first Englishman since Nick Faldo in 2008 to captain the Europeans.
“So excited and truly honoured to be named European Ryder Cup Captain, I’m really looking forward to the next 14 months and getting my team ready for Rome,” Donald shared on Twitter.
We're delighted to announce @LukeDonald as 2023 European Ryder Cup Captain
pic.twitter.com/76P9F8Cl10
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) August 1, 2022
Donald was competing at the PGA Tour’s Rocket Mortgage Classic last Thursday when the Telegraph reported his captaincy. When asked about the Telegraph report, Donald said: “If I got this captaincy I would live up to my word and see it through. Let me put it that way. I wouldn’t be doing a Henrik.”
Stenson was ousted July 20 for joining the LIV Golf Invitational Series, where he won in his debut Sunday at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.