Luke Donald Favourite To Become Next European Ryder Cup Captain

Luke Donald is now the favourite to become Europe's next Ryder Cup captain, with the 44-year-old already backed by Padraig Harrington to succeed him for the 2023 battle in Rome.

Harrington, who is part of a five-person committee to choose the next skipper, spoke to reporters at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, stating: “All I can say is that Luke would be great. Behind the scenes, he does a terrific job. His management style, he’s got the experience and I’d thoroughly recommend him.”

Previously, Lee Westwood was the front-runner, before the 48-year-old ruled himself out of the captaincy raceback in November, saying: "It’s almost a full-time job nowadays and that is something I can’t commit to while I’m in the top 50 and still competitive. The Ryder Cup is very close to my heart and I would only take on the role if I believe I could give it 100 per cent. Whoever gets the job for Rome will obviously have my full backing and I’ll continue to do all I can for the European cause."

With Westwood out, that appeared to leave Henrik Stenson in pole position. However, a report in The Telegraph revealed the Swede faced an ultimatum between the Ryder Cup captaincy and the Saudi Golf League, putting his suitability for the role into question.

If this were the case, then that would leave Donald the favourite to take up the captaincy. The Englishman has played in the Ryder Cup on four occasions, most recently 2012's ‘Miracle at Medinah’. As a player, he has never been on the losing side and also served as a vice-captain to the two most recent skippers, Thomas Bjorn in 2018 and Padraig Harrington last year.

Should Donald get chosen, he would become the fifth different Englishman to captain a Ryder Cup team in the European era and the first since Sir Nick Faldo in 2008.