Ryder Cup star clears captaincy path for Luke Donald

Four-time Ryder Cup winner Justin Rose has paved the way for Luke Donald to retain captaincy and lead Team Europe in 2025.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Rose ruled himself out of being captain at Bethpage Black in two years, as he eyes playing for the seventh time.

The 43-year-old said: “2025 is too early for me.

“The captaincy starts next year, and I feel like I’ve got some good things ahead of me as a player.

“It’s not so much that I feel I ‘need’ to play at Bethpage, it’s more that I ‘need’ to believe I can play. That’s important.”

Rose, who claimed one and a half points in Italy last month, was one of several players leading chants of “two more years”, after the convincing win at Marco Simone.

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The Englishman argues ‘it probably came too early for Donald’, given the sacrifices he had to make, but has backed the former world number one to retain the armband.

Rose added: “If I was asked, I might have to make the big commitment, even if it would affect my playing ambitions, because it’s a huge honour.

“But I think there is a time when it’s your sweet spot to be captain. But in my view, Luke is probably coming to that sweet spot right now.”

“We all recognise how difficult it is to win away nowadays and whichever captain does it, can claim the ultimate Ryder Cup success.

“But if it happens in 2025, I want to contribute as a player. If Luke wants it, he should get it.”

Bernard Gallacher and Tony Jacklin remain the only two European captains to return in consecutive years.

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And if Donald is to become the first to repeat since 1995, then Rose believes he has the right personality to manage the New York atmosphere.

“It’s New York and it’s going to be loud, isn’t it?

“We always thought that Poults [Ian Poulter] would have the gumption to go there and front down the crowd, but Luke’s quiet demeanour could be the answer, diffusing the situation rather than antagonising it.

“Luke did a fine job in Rome, and I’ve always thought it a little crazy that we have these guys who do great as captain, gather all this experience and knowledge – and then someone else comes in and has to learn how to do it himself.

“No other sport would do that, in such a big competition, would it? Sure, we have this neat tradition where the learnings are passed on, but each captain is different and has his own mark.

“Luke certainly had his. He didn’t put a foot wrong.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.