Luke Donald is Europe’s first repeat captain since 1995, and is hoping to retain the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2012.
Luke Donald has grown into a calm and composed leader as Europe’s captain, and carries himself with a level-headed assurance since winning in Rome two years ago.
Europe have identified continuity as the key to winning at Bethpage Black, and Donald is a clear example of that. He represented Europe as a player and was a part of the team that won the Miracle at Medinah 13 years ago.
Justin Rose was Donald’s teammate all those years ago, and is still teeing off for Europe, hoping to repeat his accomplishment. He’s noticed a big change in Donald as a captain compared to how he behaved as a player.
Justin Rose says Luke Donald was an introvert as a player
Rose and Donald played two Ryder Cups together as teammates in 2008 and 2012. Both are former world number ones and were at the top of their respective games around the time of their 2012 win.
When asked about Donald’s leadership qualities, Rose revealed that his captain has changed significantly from his playing days.
He said, “I think Luke has always been more on the introverted side throughout his career and very much focused on his own game and quiet and go about his business. And I think Luke has really emerged as a leader over the last couple of years, and I think he’s really invested in himself as a leader.
“I think he’s grown tremendously as a human. He’s probably learnt so much through this process. I’m blown away by the work ethic that he’s given this captaincy cycle, both of them. He came into it in Rome, maybe six months behind where he would have been otherwise, made up for it amazingly.”
Rose said Donald’s greatest quality as captain is his ability to take the workload off of his players, to allow them to focus on their golf.
He continued, “I think his communication style has been incredibly consistent and on point, and I think it takes all the fuss out of it from a player’s point of view.
“It comes down to execution from a player’s point of view always. But just good, clear captaincy I think, sets the tone and paves the way for the players to go ahead and focus on what’s important, which is obviously on the golf course from Friday morning.
“So there’s probably a million decisions Luke has had to make to give us no decisions, and I think that that’s ultimately what the job of being a captain is. But yeah, I give Luke tons of credit for how much he’s invested in himself.”
Justin Rose is Luke Donald’s pivotal piece for the Ryder Cup
Donald clearly wanted Ryder Cup experience on his team at Bethpage Black. The only difference between the team in Rome and Europe’s team in New York is Rasmus Hojgaard replacing his twin brother, Nicolai.
In the face of a frenzied New York Ryder Cup crowd, Donald needs experience and composure. Rose has shown that he can play to his high standards when the pressure mounts, even at the age of 45.
Rose won the St. Jude Championship to earn automatic qualification for the Ryder Cup. He also took Rory McIlroy to a playoff at the Masters before the Northern Irishman completed the career grand slam.
He would likely have been a captain’s pick for his leadership, but he earned his spot through his play.
Donald knows his team inside and out. He knows their personalities, their tendencies and who they play well with on the course. After his success in Rome, Team USA vice-captain Brandt Snedeker said Donald would be crazy not to repeat his pairings this time around.
That would certainly save a lot of headaches for Donald. It may not be his plan, but Rose represents this European team perfectly. He’s calm, composed, and experienced.
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