Luke Donald Press Conference | Day 1 | 2025 Ryder Cup

Luke Donald Press Conference | Day 1 | 2025 Ryder Cup

joined now by European Rder Cup captain Luke Donham. Let’s jump in for some quick questions right here. Ryan, do you find it a little I don’t know what the right word to use is odd that Tommy has didn’t win a championship until last month, but this event he just knows what it takes and gets it done. Well, I think it’s a little unfair to say, you know, he hasn’t won a championship since a month ago. you know, he’s a world-class player that’s won a bunch around the world. Um, yeah, it took him a little time and had to, you know, go through a few opportunities that let slip, uh, for sure. But I think that, you know, Tommy, he he reframes it in such a positive way. Um, you know, and I think that if you if you see it in a positive way that that the ones that get away, um, it only makes you stronger. And um you know, I think Tommy, you know, he’s a he’s a guy that just loves being around the team. Um and he loves contributing to that team and um yeah, he’s he’s a nice player to play with. I think uh uh he he he’s at the top of the list of a lot of guys on our team that people want to play with. Way up top there to 16. Hi Luke. Um obviously a lot was made of the president being here today. I know he was supporting America, but given he’s such a big golf fan, just wondering did he say anything to you or any of your guys at all when he was out there on the on the tea? Yeah, I saw the the pre Mr. President um and shook his hand and uh said said hello and he said, you know, well, you you’re becoming a a real great leader. So, it was very nice of him to say that and um yeah, it was again nice of him to support this event and uh um yeah, you’re in the middle 13. Luke, you got three and a half points today out of Rory and John Rom knowing the dynamics that are involved with trying to win a road game. What’s it like to be able to lean on those two guys in particular? Uh I mean in massive I I don’t think John has lost in a a team um one of the team the four balls or forsomes um since Paris. You know, he’s incredible leader for us on on and off the course mostly, you know, with the way he plays uh leader. Rory is, you know, probably slightly more vocal in the team room, but uh again, Rory’s talked about what the Ryder Cup means and the disappointments we saw in Wisconsin. um and how much he relishes Ryder Cups and and the opportunity to try and be a part of them and and hopefully be on on winning teams. You know, he’s made it quite clear um that is one of his big goals was to to win an away rider cup again and um yeah, he played fantastic golf today. Over to Paul and 14. uh Fitzy, given his track record in this event, just with the way he played and and how that went, was that particularly pleasing for you to see him play that well and just what you thought of him and Levig together, seeing them for the first time in this event? Yeah, they um they jailed very well and you know, you never know when you’re trying new partnerships under intense pressure, but uh they seem very relaxed. You know, their personalities really gelled and their games were um fantastic. Fitzy especially played some scintillating golf. I mean he looked very comfortable out there. Uh he looked very confident and um just great to see because you know there’s been some media about his his his Ryder Cup record and you know I I’ve always kept telling him you know you just never know when you it’s time to to to go and and and make some points. And you know, I mentioned it even two years ago that you know, Seby’s first two Ryder Cups, I think he made one point and now he’s the legend of of Europe. So, uh there’s always time, there’s always this moment um that he can contribute and you know, it was really good to see how well he played and how comfortable we looked out there. Mike 12, please. Hi, Luke. Um, it appeared during the afternoon there there was a an incident where Rory made a gesture towards the crowd. Are you aware of that? Can you comment on it at all? I’m I’m not aware. What hole was that? Uh, after the 11th hole. Um, sorry, I’m I’m not aware of that. Okay. But, um, you know, I was definitely proud of the guys and uh how they handled the situation. Um, you know, the the tough environment out there. Go right in front here to Cameron. Back to John. Is he a guy that you’ve had conversations with about going out first? Like, is he someone who’s come up to you and said, “I I want to go out first. I I want to be in this spot.” Not necessarily. I think John is looking to always just help in any way he can to contribute to the team. Um, but he has a good track record of going out first. So, it’s uh he likes to lead. He’s, you know, again, I feel like he’s someone that he wants to do a lot of his talking with his golf clubs and that’s, you know, what he brings to the brings to our team and our team room and, you know, people um all our teammates really respect that. Over to Brody on nine. Luke, I mean, we’ve been asking questions for two years about, you know, the challenge of playing on the road and winning. I mean, is there anything specific that you saw today that kind of showed that whatever preparations or strategy you’ve been doing has it kind of played out? A lot of um mental resilience, I think. You know, you just look at some of the the putts these guys hold when when it uh when it mattered is is pretty gratifying for for a captain. Um, obviously this morning, you know, to create a little bit of history with the three matches and and how how they were won was great. History is nice to accomplish. It doesn’t mean anything unless we get to 14 and a half points uh on Sunday. But I just think, you know, even this afternoon with you know, it gets louder as as it goes. you cross the road and there’s a lot of grand stands, there’s a lot of hospitality in the afternoon, you know, maybe guys have had a couple more beverages and um you know, it gets it gets loud and and the guys handled it with absolute class and uh and poise and um you know, I obviously talked about that um you know, to be prepared for an away rider cup, you have to deal with that and um I thought they deal dealt with it amazing. Shane on 10. Hey Luke, um going back to Rome now, you have five guys on your team who are three and 0 in the fourman sessions, the two in Rome and of course today. I know we don’t have pairings yet, but I imagine they’ll all be out tomorrow. Who gets credit for that beyond the players for forming these teams and giving you what I think of as almost a firewall with these guys who are so good in that format? Yeah, I’d say a couple people. Um we do a little bit of profiling. So we we look at you know people’s general characteristics and how they match up. I think that’s important with forsomes especially. Um but also I got to give a lot of credit to Dada. I mean, I think he’s so switched on, um, statistic wise. Um, you know, probably out of the all the vice captains, he’s the one I I talk to the most just because it really has a a big part of our our strategy and and how we go about the pairings, the orders. Um, you know, he’s he’s very tuned in to that stuff and, um, yeah, he’s he’s a big big asset to me. Can I ask a quick followup on that? Um, you talked about the things that go well together. I know you’re referring to parts of their game and statistics. What about personality? Is that a consideration when you look at a Forsomes team? I think so. Um, yeah, it’s it’s a little bit easier to put four ball fourball guys together in personality, but Forsomes, it’s a little bit more of a team, isn’t it? I mean, you have to rely on on your teammate even more. Um, I just look at the successful partnership I had with Sergio. I thought we were quite different personalitywise. He was energetic, upbeat. I was pretty stoic, pretty just in my own little lane. But it seemed to work very well. So, you know, I think um I’ve learned a lot from from that successful partnership. Thanks for your time, Luke. We appreciate it. You to watch another RDER Cup video, click here and subscribe here.

Watch Luke Donald’s press conference following a great day for the European team at the 2025 Ryder Cup, held at Bethpage Black.

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The 2025 Ryder Cup is the 45th edition and runs between September 25 – September 28. Luke Donald is the European Team Captain and Keegan Bradley is the U.S. Team Captain. The European Team are the reigning champion after winning 16 ½ – 11 ½ at Marco Simone in 2023. Every two years, 24 of the best players from Europe and the United States go head-to-head in match play competition. Drama, tension, incredible golf, camaraderie and sportsmanship are served in equal measure, captivating an audience of millions around the world. It’s an event that transcends sport, yet remains true to the spirit of its founder, Samuel Ryder.

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