Mark Cannizzaro Luke Donald’s return as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain has US already playing from behind By Mark Cannizzaro Published March 4, 2026, 9:18 p.m. ET Captain Luke Donald of Team Europe raises the Ryder Cup trophy. Getty Images For those U.S. golf fans still stinging from the beatdown the European Ryder Cup team put on the Americans six months ago at Bethpage Black (save for Sunday singles garbage time), something significant occurred Wednesday that could adversely affect the 2027 competition in Ireland, for the U.S. side.
Europe has named Luke Donald as its captain for a third consecutive term.
Donald, a former Ryder Cup stalwart for Europe as a player, will lead the Europeans in 2027 at Adare Manor for the biennial competition’s 100th anniversary. And Donald will do so trying to become the first Ryder Cup captain to lead his team to three consecutive victories.
Donald has the Ryder Cup formula down as well as perhaps any captain ever, and he seems to have America’s number in the competition, pushing all the right buttons.
