Luke Donald welcomes two-time major champion back | Golf News

Luke Donald has strengthened his Ryder Cup group by naming two-time Masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal as a vice-captain for the upcoming showdown at Bethpage Black.

Team Europe is set to defend its title in New York come September, following a triumphant victory over Team USA in Rome in 2023. With this being Donald’s second stint on the helm of the Ryder Cup, he’ll have the experience of Olazabal, a Ryder Cup stalwart who has lifted the trophy 4 instances out of seven participations.

Bryson DeChambeau, in the meantime, has been informed precisely what PGA Tour stars assume of him – whereas Scottie Scheffler has joined Tiger Woods and Greg Norman in a single of golf’s most unique golf equipment.

Olazabal’s captaincy in 2012 is etched in {golfing} lore, the place he led Europe to an astonishing comeback often known as the “Miracle at Medinah,” overturning a 10-6 deficit to defeat Davis Love III’s American squad in a dramatic finale in Illinois.

“Jose Maria Olazabal is woven into the fabric of Ryder Cup history,” Donald mentioned after Wednesday’s announcement. “As a player, he earned 20.5 points across seven appearances and formed one of the most iconic partnerships ever with Seve Ballesteros.

“His legacy was cemented as captain in 2012, main Europe to the unforgettable ‘Miracle at Medinah’ – a comeback impressed by the reminiscence of Seve. It’s an honour to welcome Jose back as vice-captain. His expertise, ardour, and deep connection to the Ryder Cup will as soon as again be a guiding pressure for Team Europe.”

This appointment marks Olazabal’s fifth tenure as a vice-captain at the Ryder Cup, reuniting him with Edoardo Molinari and Thomas Bjorn on Donald’s team after their collective success in Rome.

“It is great information,” Olazabal said. “When Luke approached me and requested me concerning the risk of being a vice captain again, I’ve to be sincere, I thought of it for a whereas as a result of, you understand, being in New York, it is not going to be simple. But the Ryder Cup could be very close to my coronary heart. I’ve great recollections about this occasion so I mentioned yes.

“I think Luke did a wonderful job in Rome and I believe he will do a very good job this time round too. He took care of absolutely all the details: players, caddies, families. It was wonderful to see some of the lines he came up with and the images from past champions.

“It was great additionally to see him working the best way he did during the week, being so close to the gamers. It was implausible to be half of that Ryder Cup group. It’s actually exhausting to win away from home within the United States. In New York, we all know the crowds are going to be very loud and the golf course will likely be set up in favour of the US group – we’ll should deal with that, too.

“I think there is not any bigger challenge for a golfer than facing a Ryder Cup away from home and we have to be mentally prepared for that.”

Meanwhile, Team USA captain Keegan Bradley has already assembled his group of vice-captains for the showdown at Bethpage, deciding on Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker, Webb Simpson, and Kevin Kisner as his aides.