Team Europe captain Luke Donald has plenty to ponder at this moment in time as the 2025 Ryder Cup rapidly approaches.
Rory McIlroy tops Europe’s Ryder Cup qualification, with the Northern Irishman certain to be involved regardless of his final position in the standings.
New York’s Bethpage Black hosts the 2025 Ryder Cup next September, where home team USA are favourites.
Donald says Bethpage is a ‘tough’ course, with both sides likely to set a very high standard in the next edition of the iconic tournament.
Team Europe will, of course, be looking to defend their Ryder Cup title, having beaten Team USA 16½ – 11½ in Rome last year.
What Luke Donald wants every European player to do before the 2025 Ryder Cup
Winning captain Donald took his entire team to Rome’s Marco Simone Golf Club for a practice session last September, one day before all 12 players headed to Wentworth to compete in the BMW PGA Championship.
And he has now shared his preparation hopes for next time out, saying on the No Laying Up Podcast: “Wentworth is two weeks before the Ryder Cup so hopefully most of the guys will be playing that week. Then instead of the week before the Ryder Cup being the practice week, it will be the week before.
“So we will go straight from Wentworth to Bethpage and acclimatize. Be on the time. My wish would be that all 12 guys stay in the US and not have to deal with jet lag and be ready. We will spend a couple of days at Bethpage, early in the week, the week before.”
Luke Donald wise to retain several 2023 Ryder Cup stars
Donald may have had his doubters before the 2023 Ryder Cup, but the Englishman more than stepped up to the plate in Italy.
He was calm and collected in the build-up to the tournament and during the action, expertly outsmarting opposing captain Zach Johnson.
READ MORE: The five biggest Ryder Cup shocks since 2000 including when the world number 119 beat Phil Mickelson
Team USA have now decided to replace Johnson with Keegan Bradley, an opponent Donald will know all about from their time on the PGA Tour.
Bradley undoubtedly poses a different threat, with the American captain certain to have some tricks up his sleeve at Bethpage in a bid to clinch the trophy.
The likely star-studded home team meanwhile should benefit greatly from a raucous support at the New York course.
Donald would be wise to stick with the majority of his 2023 winning team, but a lot has already changed for many of his players since that unforgettable week in Rome.
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