Nicolas Colsaerts urges Luke Donald to make Ryder Cup decision

Luke Donald has just one phone call left to make if he wants to get the full band back together in New York. 

Edoardo Molinari, Thomas Bjorn and Jose Maria Olazabal have all been officially re-named as the European captain’s assistants for the looming Ryder Cup at Bethpage.

Nicolas Colsaerts, however, is still waiting to get the nod for September’s showpiece.

“You’d have to be stupid to think I’m not on the shortlist,” the Belgian tells bunkered.co.uk.

“I think [Luke] is doing the right thing, though. Last time, I was probably announced too early. He’s looking at his options. But I’d like him to make a decision quick because I’d like to know what I’m doing in September.”

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Colsaerts was, of course, one of those 12 heroes in Medinah back in 2012, the only time a European side have won on American soil in the last two decades.

And he doubled up as not only a sage vice-captain, but also the cheerleader for a partisan crowd in 2023 as he initiated the famous ‘Thunder Clap’ on the first tee at Marco Simone.

“I get along great with everyone,” the 42-year-old says. “I bridge the gap between Bjorn, Olazabal and Molinari – the geek of the crew. It’s not like I don’t have intel or golfing IQ, but I know what it’s like to be in a team room because it’s in my blood.

“But we’ll have to see how the guys are playing in the next months to see if we need to take someone we haven’t thought about. We’ll wait and see.”

Colsaerts no longer plays a regular schedule in Europe after suffering from a rare kidney disease four years ago which left him fearing for his life. He was appointed vice-captain for the 2023 match during a ‘dark period’ of depression that spiralled from his illness.

Last year’s Alfred Dunhill Links was quietly earmarked as Colsaerts’ last professional event, but he rolled back the years to finish second at St Andrews, salvaging his DP World Tour card and shelving those retirements plans – for the time being at least.

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This week, he’s playing at the Turkish Airlines Open, the storied DP World Tour event making a return from a six-year hiatus at the Regnum Carya Resort.

“I’m somehow never surprised that I can catch some heat,” he smiled in Antalya after a four-under 67 vaulted him up the leaderboard in Saturday’s third round.

“My ball striking has always been there but I just don’t have the same fire or grit. I consider this a lap of honour.

“The decision was taken last year. Some people might think that just because I lose the card, I don’t want to push through. That’s not true. A lot of stuff has happened in the last couple years and I’ve had f****** enough of room service and staring at the ceiling in my hotel room.”

It is the Ryder Cup, though, that still ignites Colsaerts above all.

“If there’s one thing that makes me keep an eye on everything it’s the possibility of being involved again,” he says.

“It’s the best week in golf. It’s the best thing to be a part of. You feel alive the whole week. I know the US and New York is going to be different but there’s nothing that makes you feel alive like it. I’d like to think I have a good chance to be a part of it.

“But its up to Luke – let’s just hope he makes the right decision!”

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.