Tommy Fleetwood has backed Luke Donald to take on another stint as Ryder Cup captain and believes Team Europe ‘would love’ to see him in the role again for the 2027 contest.
Donald became just the second European captain in history to claim back-to-back victories over the United States, leading them to a 16.5-11.5 win in Rome before completing a famous title defence at Bethpage Black in September.
The former world No 1 has yet to rule out a third stint as captain for the centenary edition, held at Adare Manor in Ireland in September 2027, with Fleetwood hoping to see Donald return to the role and help Europe’s push for a Ryder Cup three-peat.
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Team Europe captain Luke Donald says he won’t rule out captaining Europe for a third time at Adare Manor in 2027
“I think all of us, as players and as a team, would love Luke to stay on,” Fleetwood told the Sky Sports Golf podcast.
“He has been an unbelievable captain and an unbelievable leader.
“I would class Luke as a very close friend and to watch how he has grown as a leader over this period, all the way through his captaincy in Rome to now, to watch him grow into it has been amazing.
“I think we would love him all to stay on and continue. I feel like the story has got a little bit to go, so I would love him to do that, but it’s completely his choice.
“With the captain he has been, he has earned the right to decide what he wants to do. We will see. He has been amazing and we will wait to see what Luke Donald wants to do next.”
Fleetwood finished Europe’s top scorer during the 15-13 win in New York, where he won each of his first four matches to help take a historic lead into the final-day singles.
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Highlights of the key moments from the final day of the Ryder Cup from New York, where Europe hold on to clinch the trophy
“I would say we’re all very proud to have gone there as a team, and as a family, and represented Team Europe the way that we did,” Fleetwood added. “For all of us, that will be some of the most memorable moments of our career – whatever happens in the future.
“I actually love the Christmas period because that’s when the programmes come out and the re-runs of the Ryder Cup come back, so I’ll look forward to watching them back!
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Tommy Fleetwood reflected on Team Europe’s win at Bethpage Black and the experience of facing ‘hostile’ crowds
“We were confident as a team, we were very well prepared. To have that Friday and Saturday was like dream stuff – you couldn’t have written it any better for us.
“The Saturday evening at the golf course was honestly one of the most special atmospheres I’ve ever seen. The team we had behind us, the planning that had gone into it and then for us to execute it in the way that we did was amazing.”
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Highlights of the final day of the Ryder Cup from Bethpage Black, where Team Europe claimed a 15-13 victory
Canter: Major success for Fleetwood ‘inevitable’
Fleetwood was speaking ahead of the DP World Tour Championship, where the Englishman looks to complete a career-changing year by winning the season finale for the first time.
He ended his wait for a maiden PGA Tour title by claiming FedEx Cup glory at the Tour Championship, the month before his Ryder Cup success for Team Europe, then added the DP World India Championship in October.
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Highlights from Tommy Fleetwood’s victory at the inaugural DP World India Championship, where a final-round 65 pulled him two clear of the chasing pack
Fleetwood narrowly missed out on Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship victory, losing to Aaron Rai in a play-off, with compatriot Laurie Canter backing the eight-time DP World Tour winner to keep enjoying more success.
“The golf sickos out there would tell you Tommy’s the second-best player in the world this year,” Canter told the Sky Sports Golf podcast. “Statistically, what he’s doing stacks up [with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy].
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Highlights from day four of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, where Aaron Rai pipped Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off
“He doesn’t have the major record of those two, obviously, but he will have. I think it’s inevitable he will do that and I think he’ll get a couple. He looks to me more comfortable, he’s got a huge CV of wins and it’s just that next phase.
“He seems to have a great team behind him, Butch Harmon and all the like, so I would back him to have a pretty nice little spell of golf the next decade if he stays fit.”
What else is on the Sky Sports Golf podcast?
Andrew Coltart, Wayne Riley and Laurie Canter joined Jamie Weir for the latest episode of the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, recorded in Dubai ahead of the DP World Tour Championship.
They discuss the finale to the Race to Dubai, with McIlroy best-placed to seal the title, plus chat about the players who could seal their PGA Tour cards and dual membership for next season. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Spreaker, while vodcast editions can be found on the Sky Sports Golf YouTube channel.
Can Rory McIlroy win the Race to Dubai again? Watch the DP World Tour Championship live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins Thursday from 7am on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the DP World Tour and more with no contract.
