Luke Donald to lead Europe's Ryder Cup team for third straight time

The former world No. 1 golfer will captain Europe in the 2027 Ryder Cup matches in Ireland.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Luke Donald has been named the captain of the European Ryder Cup team for the 2027 competition, making him the first captain in 30 years to lead the team in three straight Ryder Cups. Donald previously captained Europe to victories in 2023 and 2025, and will now have a chance to become the first Ryder Cup captain with three straight wins.

Why it matters

Donald's appointment as captain for a third straight Ryder Cup is a significant milestone, as it has been 30 years since a European captain has led the team in three consecutive matches. This continuity and experience could give the European team a strategic advantage as they look to continue their dominance on home soil in Ireland, a venue where Europe has not lost since 1993.

The details

Donald, a former world No. 1 golfer from England, was originally passed over for the 2023 captaincy in favor of Henrik Stenson. However, Stenson's defection to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series led to Donald being named captain for that year, and he has now been retained for 2027 as well. Donald led Europe to resounding victories in both 2023 and 2025, coping with a hostile New York crowd in the latter event.

  • Donald was named captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup on March 4, 2026.
  • The 2027 Ryder Cup matches will take place at Adare Manor in Ireland.

The players

Luke Donald

A former world No. 1 golfer from England who has now been named Ryder Cup captain for Europe for the third straight competition.

Henrik Stenson

The originally appointed European Ryder Cup captain for 2023 who gave up the job when he joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series.

Keegan Bradley

The U.S. Ryder Cup captain in 2025 who called Donald "the best European Ryder Cup captain of all time."

Tiger Woods

Considered the top choice to lead the U.S. Ryder Cup team, though he has not yet decided if he has the time to take on the captaincy.

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What they’re saying

“The last two Ryder Cups have meant a lot to me and my family. I didn't imagine this third time would come. Celebrating on that Sunday night in New York after a pressure-packed week in a tough environment, I thought maybe my job was done. But maybe there is a little more story to tell.”

— Luke Donald

“I think he's the best European Ryder Cup captain of all time, Luke Donald.”

— Keegan Bradley, U.S. Ryder Cup captain

What’s next

The PGA of America has encouraged Tiger Woods to decide within the month whether he will take on the U.S. Ryder Cup captaincy for the 2027 matches.

The takeaway

Donald's appointment as a three-time Ryder Cup captain for Europe is a historic milestone, as he looks to cement his legacy as one of the greatest leaders in the event's history by leading his team to an unprecedented third straight victory on home soil in Ireland.