'I Wouldn’t Be Doing A Henrik' - Donald On Potential Ryder Cup Captaincy
The Englishman has assured fans that he will see through the Ryder Cup captaincy if he were to get the job
Luke Donald has vowed that he wouldn't do "a Henrik" and leave for LIV Golf if he were to be named Europe's next Ryder Cup captain.
The Englishman is set to be announced as the new skipper for Rome as soon as early next week, according to reports.
“There’s nothing official to report,” Donald told Golfweek on the day that reports emerged. “I have been in talks with Guy [Kinnings, Ryder Cup director] at the European Tour. And that’s all I know right now. I know I have a very good chance, Thomas Bjorn and a couple other guys are under consideration.”
“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.”
The former World No.1 says he's "surprised" that Stenson put his name forward despite wanting to join LIV Golf, which he now has. The Swede said ahead of his LIV debut that he "made every arrangement possible" to play LIV and fulfil his duties as Ryder Cup captain before being "removed."
“I was surprised that he would put his name forward if his plan was to go to LIV, which, you know, the rumors, and I hate to talk about rumors, but rumors are that he’d been in contact with the rival tours, whatever they were, and he was very interested," Donald said on Stenson.
"And I think everyone knew that, the European Tour knew that. They obviously took his word that he wasn’t going to do it. We all have to sign a clause or contract saying that we won’t have anything to do with [LIV].
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“I’m disappointed I guess that he would put his name forward and then go to LIV. I understand certain guys going to LIV, in certain situations in their careers and stuff, that makes sense. But obviously something big to give up.”
The Englishman also revealed that he was approached by LIV to work on the broadcast, which he politely declined.
“Turned that down pretty quickly,” he said. “A little bit of a slight on my game. I know I haven’t played that great, but thanks but no thanks.”
An announcement could be coming early next week, with the four-time Ryder Cup winner and two-time vice captain touted to get the job ahead of Thomas Bjorn, Paul Lawrie and Robert Karlsson.
Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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