Ryder Cup winning captain Luke Donald ‘would consider’ leading Team Europe at the 2025 tournament at Bethpage after his players call for him to stay for ‘two more years!’

• Calls have been made for Luke Donald to stay on as Ryder Cup captain for 2025
• The Englishman said he ‘would consider’ staying on until the next edition
• Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here 

Luke Donald has left the door open to staying on as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain after leading his side to a stunning victory over the US – and the job would be his to turn down if he wants it.

The Englishman was serenaded by chants of ‘two more years’ by his players in the wake of the 16.5-11.5 win in Rome. 

It is an appetite that is understood to be strongly shared by the senior hierarchy of European golf.

Europe has not had a repeat leader since Bernard Gallacher between 1991 and 1995, but given the rave reviews Donald has received publicly and privately, and indeed the challenge of retaining the trophy in what will be a fiery atmosphere in New York in 2025, where Tiger Woods is tipped to captain the US, then Donald is a natural choice.

When Donald was asked about his interest in continuing on Monday morning, having only made it to bed at 4am following Europe’s victory party, the former world No 1 said: ‘I’ll obviously consider it. 

Luke Donald (middle) ‘would consider’ keeping the European Ryder Cup captaincy for the next tournament

The Englishman would be the first captain since Davis Love III in 2016 to get two shots at leading a Ryder Cup team out

His side claimed a resounding 16.5-11.5 victory against the USA at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome 

‘I’ve certainly not given it any thought at the moment. I want to enjoy right now. I want to enjoy this week. 

‘It’s not an easy job. It took a lot of time. It took a lot of effort, a lot of thinking. So I would have to seriously sit down and consider that with my wife and my family.

‘Obviously I could walk away and think about an amazing job this week – the players were really happy and we won and leave that as my legacy.

‘It’s always easier to win at home whether you are a US or European Ryder Cup captain. To win in America is special. Bernhard Langer has done it. Jose Maria (Olazabal) has done it. It’s an extra feather in the cap if you can win away.’

Donald, who described the win at Marco Simone as the ‘greatest moment’ of his career, went on to state his opposition to the notion of players being paid to compete in the Cup. It follows rumblings of discontent within the US team that they want a slice of profits that are close to £90million.

Donald said: ‘I’m against it 100 percent. This is the purest form of our sport. This is a week where it’s not about that. We do play for money most weeks, but this week is more about what true sport means and what true motivation is. It comes from intrinsic stuff, not external rewards. The reward is being together and sharing that journey. And making history.’

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