LUKE DONALD HAS appointed Edoardo Molinari as his first vice-captain for Europe’s Ryder Cup defence at Bethpage Black in 2025.
Molinari’s statistical analysis played a key role in Europe regaining the trophy in Rome last year with a five-point victory over the United States at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
The 42-year-old former US Amateur champion, who also played on a winning team in 2010, said: “I’m very happy. It’s something that I’m very proud of and probably means I did a pretty decent job last time, so I cannot wait to help the team and Luke again in Bethpage and I’m really looking forward to it.
“Luke called me the very day he was named captain, a little before the official announcement, and said he really enjoyed working with me in Rome and would like my help again.
“We had another chat about a week later, maybe 30 or 40 minutes on the phone, chatted about a few things and he asked me and I said of course, I would happily do it all over again.
“I think Rory put it best in the press conference after Rome, he said the most difficult thing in golf these days is to win an away Ryder Cup.
“It hasn’t been done in many years now, Luke was part of the team in Medinah, the last one that Europe won away, and hopefully we can produce something similar.”
Donald, who has never been on a losing side in five Ryder Cups as a player or captain, said: “Edoardo is someone I have got to know very well over the last couple of years and he’s going to be a great addition again for the 2025 Ryder Cup.
“He plays a very significant role. He’s around the players a lot and he works with a lot of players on their statistics as well.
“I’ll lean heavily on him with the qualification criteria and then when we get close to the matches, how the team is forming, how their skillsets match to the golf course at Bethpage and whether they’re more foursomes-related pairings, fourballs-related players, and putting those pairings together.”
Congrats Leinster – well deserved and now officially the best Rugby province in Ireland :)
come on rte why can’t ye show this match hard to listen to Irish commentary drive u mad
watch it with radio commentary
Anthony
Will you ever stop complaining. Fair play to TG4
What’s the point having tmo when ye don’t use him??
Goes upstairs for other tries when they were clear tries and doesn’t bother when it’s marginal call
Thoroughly agree – perfect tries he goes upstairs and Laulala’s TRY he disallows it – no knock on by Earls – what a wan#er !
Come on Munster, Leinster are all mouth and no trousers. 20-15 win for the brave and the true. Tough luck ladyboys.
Not looking likely there
What type of idiot are you? Go back to your cave
What type of idiot are you? Go and buy a big bottle of cop-on. Dope.
breaking my bollix laughing Munster third best team in Ireland now
Your a bollix
enjoyed watching the Magpie. he had a great game in the back tonight
Bit worried about him for a a few moments in the second half, but good to see him to get back in the pitch to finish out an impressive debut.
Sing with Gusto
The Ref-er-ree iz uh bazturd
De Referee haz d last Wurd
Then recite the following twenty times:
No more & no less ye deserve
the Leinster lads held their nerve
And now ye give out, ye grumpy red lout
Ye sore losing whupped little sprout
Steven! Bit premature there dontchathink! Next time buddy.
2 against 1 isn’t fair the ref and Leinster on the same side
Kerry looks fairly bet into that Mack, it looks like he’s wearing a kids jacket!