Whatever happens at Bethpage Black over the coming days, it is hard to see Luke Donald staying on to lead the European team at the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in 2027.
What Luke Donald has done in the Ryder Cup is quite rare in the modern game. The Englishman has become only the third person this century after Tom Watson and Davis Love III to take on the captaincy for a second time.
Of course, the 47-year-old was lined up for the role before he had even lifted the trophy in Rome. Donald said it was a highlight of his career when the players chanted for him to stay on for another two years at Marco Simone.
But it would be a surprise if the DP World Tour were not already considering who could succeed the former world number one once Bethpage is in the rearview mirror.
Justin Rose suggests whether he could be Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain
With several legendary figures potentially taking themselves out of contention by moving to LIV Golf, it is fair to say that Justin Rose has become the leading candidate.
Rose will make his seventh appearance in New York. So there is absolutely no question over whether he is deserving of the responsibility.
But based on the 45-year-old’s form, the prospect of him playing in Ireland in two years cannot be ruled out.
With that, he has told The NCG Golf Podcast that he faces a tough decision if he is offered the role in the coming months.
“I don’t know. It is an interesting time for Europe, and this is not me out of the equation, Luke’s done two. I don’t think there’s a natural, ready-made perfect-timing captain waiting in the wings,” he replied when asked how long it is until Rose becomes captain.
“So that might be a good time for me, it might be a terrible time for me, because actually the captaincy isn’t in two years’ time, it actually is in four months’ time. So I think that is a thing to remember. That’s the thing I’ve got to remember going forwards. And that’s what Luke has really shown all of us I think, how big a role it is, and how much hard work it is.
“It’s not like a month before, ‘alright boys, how are we all playing? What do we think about pairings?’ That’s maybe how it was once upon a time. Luke has been, I guess, like a CEO for three years now. He’s been very impressive.”
Why Bethpage may not be Justin Rose’s final Ryder Cup appearance as a player
Rose is not in New York to make up the numbers. He lost out in a playoff at The Masters after producing a sublime final round. Meanwhile, he went on to win the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
It was a statement that it was J.J. Spaun he beat in a playoff in Memphis with the Ryder Cup just around the corner.
The 2013 US Open champion was not relying on a captain’s pick for Bethpage following that victory.
| Year | Justin Rose’s points won | Overall record |
| 2008 | 3 | 3-1-0 |
| 2012 | 3 | 3-2-0 |
| 2014 | 4 | 3-0-2 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2-3-0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2-2-0 |
| 2023 | 1.5 | 1-1-1 |
Rose may not be someone who plays more than three matches. However, he is a player who, from the outside, can be paired with almost anyone within the team.
Rasmus Hojgaard would surely benefit from playing alongside Rose on his debut. Meanwhile, others want to see Rose and Rory McIlroy paired up for the very first time.
He seems invaluable to Donald. So it is no surprise that he is not necessarily ready to bring the curtain down on his Ryder Cup playing career just yet.
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