For a near-unprecedented third-straight time, Luke Donald will be Europe’s Ryder Cup captain at Adare Manor in 2027.
He is looking to become the first man to win three-straight Ryder Cups as captain in the event’s storied history and cement himself as the greatest captain of all time.
This was a universally popular decision among Europe’s players and vice captains, from what they have said publicly at least. Donald is the glue that holds this powerhouse European side together as the undisputed leader in their locker room.
But Donald’s return does mean that any captains-in-waiting will have to wait another two years for their chance to take the reins. Francesco Molinari looked to be the next man up, but Justin Rose’s name has been floated, too.
And he confirmed prior to The Players Championship that he was asked if he’d be interested in the role before Donald was announced.
Justin Rose said Team Europe asked about his interest in Ryder Cup captaincy
45-year-old Rose was one of Europe’s best performers at Bethpage Black, but he’s unlikely to have too many Ryder Cups left in him. But once he’s retired, Rose looks certain to transition to a role as captain.
Not for 2027, however, even if Donald didn’t return. He still hopes to suit up in Adare Manor as a player. Speaking before The Players, he said whether he considered going for the role:
“Well, I think first and foremost, it was always Luke’s decision to make before it was anybody else’s decision to sort of make.
“Yeah, they sounded me out to see where my thinking was for sure, but I think it was always going to be — Luke’s done such an incredible job the last three or four years, however long he was in his position, you know, he gets first call, which I think is absolutely right.
“I think from my point of view, it might have been good timing, but I think also at the same time I still believe that I can play in another one or two or more; let’s see, who knows. I don’t really want to put a time limit on it. But certainly the next one I would love to have a crack at, for sure, as a player.
“That’s been the advice from all the captains, vice captains and players that I played with through the years on Team Europe. They’re like, nothing trumps playing. So that’s always going to be the ultimate goal.
“But yeah, like I said, Luke’s decision, and I’m glad he’s doing it, because he’s obviously, what also what he’s brought to the captaincy is big shoes to fill from that point of view and obviously the next guy that takes on that responsibility, it’s pretty much a full-time job from that point of view.
“So to do it justice, you want to be ready and give it everything.”
Rose hopes to be representing Europe at 47, before looking to 2029 and beyond to take on the captaincy.
The oldest Ryder Cup players of all time
Playing in a Ryder Cup at 47 would be an incredible achievement, but it still wouldn’t put Rose in the ascendancy as one of the oldest players in the competition’s history.
Raymond Floyd’s 1993 performance remains the gold standard. At 51, he won three points to prove that experience can mitigate the physical advantages of youth, especially in the high-pressure cauldron of match play.
Similarly, Jay Haas’s appearance in 2004 at age 50 highlighted a shift in the modern era, where fitness and equipment allow for longer competitive lifespans. More recently, players like Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson have pushed into their late 40s, acting as “playing coaches” who stabilise the locker room.
These players have served as a pivotal bridge between captain and player, and that’s exactly the role Rose played in 2025, and hopefully for him, he’ll continue to fill that role in 2027.