Luke Donald Ryder Cup vice-captain call has sentimental value for Europe

02 August 2023 , 17:38

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Luke Donald has added two past-winning Ryder Cup captains to Europe's ranks (Image: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Luke Donald is gearing up for the Ryder Cup in Rome next month and has made an interesting addition to his European team.

The English golfer has appointed two past winning captains, José María Olazábal and Thomas Bjorn, as vice-captains. Olazábal, who has a rich history in the Ryder Cup both as a player and a winning captain, led the Europeans to their memorable victory over the United States in 2012.

This time, Olazábal will be assisting Captain Donald in the upcoming tournament, 11 years on from the famous win at Medinah when he sent the 45-year-old out first in the Sunday singles. Reflecting on his decision to bring Olazábal on board, Donald said: "When you think of José María Olázabal, you immediately think of the Ryder Cup.

“He brings amazing passion and I couldn't be more excited to have him on board. He was my Captain when I last played in the Ryder Cup – at Medinah in 2012 – and I thoroughly enjoyed playing for him that year.

“He picked me to play number one in the singles and that was hugely gratifying.” Olazábal was pleasantly surprised to receive the call from Donald.

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Despite his significant involvement in previous Ryder Cups, he didn't expect to be asked to join the team once more, reports the Express US. "With my previous experiences in the Ryder Cup I am obviously thrilled to be back involved once again,” he said.

“I am really looking forward to feeling that special adrenaline flow, the intensity and the electricity that only the Ryder Cup can bring – I’m really excited to be part of it all again. It was a very nice surprise to be asked by Luke. I didn’t expect it but I was delighted when the call came."

Luke Donald has named his vice-captain for the Ryder Cup (Getty Images)

This is not the first time Donald has added a former winning captain to his team. He had previously appointed Thomas Bjorn, who led Europe to victory in 2018, as a vice-captain. With the addition of Olazábal and Bjorn, Donald has assembled a team with extensive Ryder Cup experience and success.

In addition to the two winning captains, Donald has also included Nicolas Colsaerts, a member of the victorious 2012 Ryder Cup team, and Edoardo Molinari, who played a pivotal role in Europe's win in 2010.

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Joshua Lees