Even though the next Ryder Cup, where Team Europe hopes to achieve a historic three‑peat, is still a year away, captain Luke Donald has already gathered a large portion of his prospective squad for a pre‑emptive trip to the immaculate Adare Manor estate in Ireland. Unlike the exhaustive scouting expeditions Donald organized before previous triumphs at Marco Simone Golf Club and Bethpage Black, this outing was more of an introductory experience. It allowed a blend of seasoned European Ryder Cup veterans and several players on the cusp of their first appearance to get a feel for the course that will host next year’s competition. The group arrived in Ireland directly after the Amgen Irish Open.
Following a team dinner, they tackled a full 18‑hole round on Monday. In total, sixteen golfers joined Donald and his vice‑captains for the session, which preceded their departure for the DP World Tour’s BMW PGA Championship.
The contingent comprised ten members of last year’s victorious side, two former Ryder Cup participants, and four men who could make their debut in 2025. "Whenever I’m invited to Adare Manor, I jump at the chance," said Jon Rahm, smiling.
"It’s arguably one of the finest hotel‑golf experiences on the planet." Rahm added that the weekend felt like a much‑needed break for the group. "It was a lot of fun and a great way for us to reconnect and remember why we love this game," he told Sky Sports. "For the players who have never set foot there, it helps to shake off any first‑time nerves and get comfortable with the surroundings." Only two of the twelve men who celebrated a 15‑13 win in New York were absent: Rory McIlroy and Rasmus Højgaard.
Former vice‑captain and 2018 winner Alex Noren, as well as Nicolai Højgaard – a member of the 2023 squad – did travel. The rising stars Alex Fitzpatrick and Kristoffer Reitan, both of whom impressed during their rookie seasons on the PGA Tour, were also present, alongside the Spanish newcomers Eugenio Chacarra and Ángel Ayora. Most of the team flew straight from the Irish Open, while Shane Lowry arrived later after his record‑breaking 11‑stroke victory at Trump International Golf Links in his native Dublin. Justin Rose described the gathering as "a lovely boys' day out," noting that the dinner gave everyone a chance to discuss what it means to wear the European colors and to outline the plans for the upcoming season.
He later explained that the round itself was deliberately relaxed. "Having Adare Manor almost entirely to ourselves is a special privilege, and it lets the rookies see what being part of this group feels like.
It sparks a fire in them – they start to feel like they already belong, that they’re part of Luke’s vision and the way the captain runs things." Rose was quick to point out that the trip wasn’t about gaining a tactical edge. "It’s not a game‑changing excursion that says, ‘we have an advantage now.’ It’s more about culture, about setting the tone and reinforcing the team ethos." The European contingent played in foursomes under calm, dry conditions.
Some members were experiencing the course for the first time, while others were reacquainting themselves with a venue that previously hosted the JP McManus Pro‑Am. Rahm praised the state of the course. "The weather in Ireland has been brilliant, and the course is in the best shape I’ve ever seen. It was firm, but not overly fast – they’ve left it enjoyable for the public as well.
It’s immaculate." Unlike the last two European Ryder Cups, which took place on courses that double as regular DP World Tour stops – Le Golf National in 2018 (also the Open de France) and Marco Simone in 2023 (the Open d’Italia) – Adare Manor presents a different kind of challenge. There is far less historical data for the captains to draw on when shaping the layout. "Setting up a course that we don’t have years of tour statistics for is a whole new puzzle," explained Alex Noren.
"The organisers can manipulate the rough, move tee boxes, add or remove bunkers – it’s not a blank canvas, but there’s a lot of flexibility. We’ll see how they use that to create a fair but demanding test." PGA Championship champion Aaron Rai had been invited to join the group but declined due to a close friend’s wedding in Portugal. Tom McKibbin, who had played two practice rounds with Donald in Ireland the previous week, was not part of the party. Qualification for the 2025 Ryder Cup is already underway.
Points are currently being earned through the Race to Dubai rankings, and from January the FedExCup standings will also feed into the selection process. Rose believes the team will see fresh faces next September.
"Injecting some new energy is always a good idea," he said. "You want a mix of experience and youthful ideas – new playing styles, different pairing options. The transition from Whistling Straits in 2021 to Rome in 2023 was smooth, and it helped solidify players who later became key contributors at Bethpage." He highlighted the depth of talent emerging in Europe: "The Højgaard brothers, Ludvig Åberg, even Bob MacIntyre – they’re all becoming mainstays.
Europe has built a strong pipeline, so we can comfortably bring in another generation of youngsters." Looking ahead, eleven of the twelve men who will travel to New York in 2025 are already confirmed, along with four of the five vice‑captains from the 2023 victory. The Molinari twins – Edoardo and Francesco – have secured a third consecutive stint in Donald’s backroom staff. Padraig Harrington has been added as a vice‑captain for the home‑soil event, and McIlroy expects that much of the core group from Donald’s previous two teams will reconvene in Ireland. "Europe is the perfect place to blend rookies with veterans," McIlroy told Sky Sports.
"Continuity is a hallmark of our Ryder Cup culture. While there will inevitably be a few new faces, the nucleus of the team – the captain, the vice‑captains, the core players – will stay largely the same, provided everyone stays healthy and performs well." The 2025 Ryder Cup is scheduled for 17‑19 September and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Luke Donald will be aiming to become the first captain ever to guide Europe to three consecutive victories, a feat that would cement his legacy in the annals of golf history. For fans eager to follow the lead‑up events, the BMW PGA Championship will be shown live on Sky Sports Golf from Thursday at 7:30 a.m., with streaming options available via NOW and various subscription deals.