Luke Donald has refused to close the door on captaining Team Europe for a third time in the Ryder Cup after he led his team to victory at a hostile Bethpage Black over the weekend.
The 47-year-old Englishman masterminded the Europeans to a thrilling 15-13 victory over the Americans as they became the first team since Team Europe in 2012 to collect the trophy away from home.
This is his second successive triumph over the U.S. after he also captained the side to a 16½ – 11½ win in Italy in 2023 when he was drafted in as a replacement for Henrik Stenson.
Following the victory, players and fans have been vocal demanding that Donald remain captain for the 2027 edition of the biennial contest at Adare Manor in Ireland but he has stated that he will not “rush into a decision”.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Donald said: “A lot of people questioned why I would do it a second time after doing it so well in Rome, but home and away is a different challenge and I’ve ticked both those boxes.
“Whether I do it again is something I’ll have to think about.”
He added: “I’m very humbled and grateful that some of the players and the fans were chanting two years again. I’ll never rule (it) out.
“I’m not going to rush into a decision like this today. I just want to enjoy this one.”
The celebratory chant of “two more years” was repeatedly echoed in the press conference room by his players after it was also sung as Donald lifted the trophy for the second time on Sunday.
One of the players, Spain’s Jon Rahm, said he was “so perfect” for the team.
“He is the captain of this ship, and he’s led us better than I can see anybody leading us,” Rahm added. He’s set the bar extremely high for the future captains.”
U.S. team captain Keegan Bradley also heaped praise on Donald following the contest.
“I think he’s the best European Ryder Cup captain ever,” Bradley said. “He put his team in the best position to win, and to do that at these two places is a remarkable feat.”
If Donald were to record a third stint as Team Europe captain, he would become the first since Bernhard Gallacher in 1995 to do so and it will give him the opportunity to make history by becoming the first ever European captain to win three consecutive Ryder Cups.