The job LIV Golf offered to Luke Donald which he refused

Add as preferred source on Google

Team Europe probably have plenty to thank LIV Golf for following their victories in the last two Ryder Cup events.

There was reason to think that the European team were in disarray heading into the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. They were looking to bounce back from a record defeat at Whistling Straits in 2021.

Is this the end of LIV Golf?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

Of course, a number of their stalwarts had decided to make the move to LIV Golf the following year.

While it was clear that the likes of Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter were probably unlikely to play in the Ryder Cup again anyway, the raft of defections still had a huge impact on Europe’s plans for 2023.

They had seemingly seen a number of future captains take themselves out of contention.

The offer Luke Donald rejected from LIV Golf

And just when it seemed as though the boat could not be rocked anymore, Henrik Stenson – who had been named as the captain for Marco Simone – was stripped of the role ahead of his own move to LIV Golf.

That presented Luke Donald with the opportunity to take on the captaincy.

Obviously, that set the stage for Europe to win home and away and put the 48-year-old on the cusp of becoming the greatest skipper in the event’s history.

But it turns out that the Englishman previously had his own chance to join LIV.

According to a report from The Times, Donald rejected the opportunity to sign with LIV and work as a commentator. The offer came after he fell out of the top 500 in the world rankings.

Luke Donald vindicated for rejecting the chance to join LIV Golf

It would have been a coup for LIV to land Donald. He was the world number one as recently as 2012. He had boasted a flawless Ryder Cup record – so it would have been yet another setback for the DP World Tour.

Donald taking on the Ryder Cup captaincy has somewhat accelerated the end of his playing career at the highest level. Clearly, he has given absolutely everything to ensuring that Europe are successful.

Bringing the curtain down on his playing days to become a commentator on LIV understandably did not appeal in the same way.

And that decision has been vindicated in some style.