Even before the events of the last weekend in September this year at Bethpage Black Golf Course in suburban Long Island in close proximity to New York City, Luke Donald has been regarded as one of golf’s greats. After his professional career began in 2001, he became World No.1 in May 2011 and stayed at the summit for 56 weeks. He was the first player in history to win the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai and PGA TOUR Money List in the same year, also in 2011. In his career, he accrued five wins on the PGA Tour and seven on the DP World Tour, and, as a player, he represented Team Europe in 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2012—all four teams won. Then, Donald was appointed as Team Europe’s captain for the 2023 Ryder Cup, which they won at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome with a score of 16.5–11.5.
As if all that didn’t already secure his status in the annals of golf, his leadership of Team Europe’s 15–13 victory of the 45th edition of The Ryder Cup on American soil on a demanding course amidst a raucous, partisan watching gallery has cemented it. Across three action-packed days, both teams of 12 players played tremendous golf, with Team USA mounting a ferocious comeback on Sunday; but Donald’s Team Europe ultimately retained the Samuel Ryder Trophy, their first away win in 13 years. The only other European captain to win consecutive Ryder Cups besides Donald is fellow Englishman Tony Jacklin (1985 and 1987).
In addition to these history-making feats, this year’s Ryder Cup marks 30 years since Rolex first became the Official Timekeeper of Team Europe. The watchmaker’s association with golf goes back all the way to the 1969 Ryder Cup, when all-time great and Rolex Testimonee Jack Nicklaus legendarily conceded a short putt to Jacklin, which resulted in a draw instead of a win for Team USA. Donald has been a Rolex Testimonee since 2006, a relationship he says means a lot to him and his golfing career. “I like to think my own approach shares some of the values that are synonymous with Rolex, such as precision and attention to detail. Rolex also places a lot of emphasis on legacy and inspiring future generations, which, similarly, we strive to do with Team Europe.”
Congratulations on the back-to-back victories. What does this Ryder Cup win mean to you?
Ryder Cup weeks are the best weeks of our lives. We talk about this all the time. Those individual accolades are fun. Individually, we want to achieve as much as we can. But I think those weeks we spend together are the ones we remember and cherish the most, because of the time we get to spend with each other. A big part of my captaincy is to create an environment where these guys are having the best weeks of their lives. We’ll always remember this. We’ll always go down in history. Future generations will talk about this team, what they did, and how they were able to overcome one of the toughest environments in all of sport.
What do you think makes The Ryder Cup such a unique and emotionally charged event in sports?
A big part of it is because you’re playing for something bigger than yourself. Golf is intrinsically an individual sport, but for The Ryder Cup, we come together as a team. You are playing not just for yourself but also for your partner, your family, and your continent. That is powerful, and it brings out a lot of emotion and passion. At a Tour event or a major, as a spectator, you might root for a certain player, but generally, you appreciate good shots and good golf. It’s different at a Ryder Cup. You’re for one side or the other. The crowd really makes The Ryder Cup special.
How has your perspective on The Ryder Cup evolved from player to captain?
I’m not sure my perspective about The Ryder Cup itself has changed. It has always meant so much to me, and I’ve been immensely proud to represent Europe in each of my appearances. What perhaps has changed is my appreciation of what goes on behind the scenes. As a player, everything is done for you so that you can just turn up and play, whereas, being captain, I’ve seen the amount of work that enables that to happen, and I’ve personally had much greater involvement in that process.
What are the key ingredients for creating unity in Team Europe?
It’s about creating the right culture. Communication is an important part of that. I try to have regular communication with the players and keep that bond strong throughout the two years. Unity is something we’ve become renowned for as Team Europe. As captain, you try to stay true to that, but also build on it and move it forward with each Ryder Cup.
How do you maintain composure and consistency under pressure—both as a golfer and as a leader?
That is one of the challenges of playing elite sport. Experience certainly helps. The more you experience the pressure of being in contention or leading, the more you know what to expect. As a captain, it’s a different type of pressure. You don’t hit any shots, so you can’t affect the outcome directly like you can when you are playing, so you have to focus on the things that you can control.
Who were your mentors or role models, and how have they shaped your style as captain?
I played on four winning teams, so I’m able to draw on elements from all four captains I played under—Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Colin Montgomerie, and José María Olazábal. They were all very different, but I learnt something from each of them. My experiences as a vice captain, in 2018 with Thomas Bjorn and 2021 with Padraig Harrington, were also important in how I prepared for my own captaincy, because I got more of an insight into what the role entails compared to when I was playing.
How does tradition play a role in motivating the team?
Tradition plays a big role. So much of what we do when we come together for Team Europe is about passing things down to the next generation. We’re very proud to play for Europe and a big part of that is because of what happened before us. You’re part of something bigger than yourself, both because you’re part of a team at that moment and because of the history of the badge you wear. There are many traditions and rituals during a Ryder Cup week that make it special—one being the gifting of a Rolex watch to the players and vice captains with a special engraving on the back. As captain, being able to work with Rolex months ahead to make sure we get the right one that ties into the history of The Ryder Cup and creating something special for us all is one of the coolest things.
Rolex is synonymous with excellence and precision—values that also define elite golfers. How do those qualities manifest in your own approach to the game and leadership?
I was never the longest hitter, so I worked hard to ensure that I achieved excellence and precision in other areas of my game, particularly my irons and my short game. My stats when I reached World No. 1 were certainly reflective of that, and that work ethic and attention to detail is something I’ve taken forward into my captaincy. I’ve tried to be meticulous in my preparation to create an environment so that the players can compete to the best of their abilities.
Which Rolex watch holds the most significance for you?
It’s always hard to pick out one in particular, but the Rolex watches I’ve received for being part of The Ryder Cup clearly hold great significance to me because of what they signify. They are connected to the memories of being part of a winning team and being part of something bigger than yourself.
