Luke Donald battling anxiety as captain faces | Golf News

Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has opened up concerning the “anxiety” he feels whereas steering his crew towards defending their title at Bethpage Black this September.

With simply 158 days left till Team Europe faces off in opposition to Keegan Bradley’s Team USA in New York, Donald is targeted on maintaining the trophy they stylishly secured in Rome in 2023. On Wednesday, Donald, one of the uncommon captains to serve a second Ryder Cup time period, introduced Jose Maria Olazabal as his vice-captain.

The Ryder Cup is choosing up consideration as the three-day occasion edges nearer. American Andrew Novak has expressed his want to make the crew after ending second to Justin Thomas on the RBC Heritage – whereas European Tommy Fleetwood’s spouse admitted her paranioa over chatter about their 23-year age hole.

Donald’s earlier triumph and the esteem from his gamers made him a natural decide for a repeat function. However, the European captain confesses that the function’s pressures are ever-present. “It’s fun when you’re lifting that trophy, but there’s a lot of pressure,” he stated. “There’s a lot of anxiety. Most nights, you’re getting four hours of sleep. It’s just a lot. There’s so much going on.

“That’s why, for me, preparation is essential. Making sure, earlier than you even get there that week, that you’ve got just about a good thought of what to do and you’ve got a plan A and a plan B, and perhaps a plan C if issues aren’t going the best way you need.

“That’s where the lead-up for this whole 18 months, two years, to try and get myself in a position where I feel reasonably prepared. You never can be totally prepared, but I feel like I certainly feel more confident and more calm the more prepared I am, and that’s why I try and put in the work.

“But it is nonetheless a very demanding atmosphere. Being in New York, enjoying away shall be actually demanding. But again, it is a very powerful problem to win an away Ryder Cup. We know that. It’s by no means straightforward. The U.S. will definitely be on the lookout for revenge from Rome, and they are going to be a powerful crew to beat.”

Donald is gearing up for a crucial week as he prepares his game at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans – a unique doubles event – partnering with Colombia’s Camilo Villegas.

While focused on his own performance, Donald surely has his sights set on scouting for potential candidates for his European Ryder Cup team at TPC Louisiana. The Zurich Classic stands out as the PGA Tour’s singular team format event, providing the last chance before September’s team selection for hopefuls to prove themselves in both foursomes and fourballs.

With a field glittered by European talent including definite team inclusions like Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, who are returning to defend their win from last year, attention is also drawn to stars such as Matt Fitzpatrick, Bob MacIntyre, Aaron Rai, Sepp Straka, and the Hojgaard twins: Rasmus and Nicolai.

“It’s great this week to see so many Europeans right here,” Donald added. “Obviously, a little bit of a dynamic from the [DP World Tour] alliance we’ve got and the ten [PGA Tour] playing cards [available to Europe-based players each year]. Seems like more and more Europeans are coming and enjoying.

“It’ll be interesting to see how they do. I’ll certainly be keeping an eye. I had a few conversations earlier in the year about potential partnerships amongst some of these Europeans that I thought might work.”