Even though Team Europe may not face the chance to clinch a historic three‑peat at the Ryder Cup for another year, captain Luke Donald has already gathered a large portion of his prospective roster at the luxurious Adale Manor estate. The gathering wasn’t quite the exhaustive scouting tour Donald organised before previous triumphs at Marco Simone Golf Club and Bethpage Black, but it did give many of his likely selections a first‑hand taste of the course that will host next year’s competition in Ireland.
A blend of seasoned Ryder Cup veterans and a handful of potential newcomers joined the group after the Amgen Irish Open. The itinerary featured a team dinner followed by a full 18‑hole round on Monday. In total, sixteen players assembled with Donald and his vice‑captains for the on‑course session before heading on to the DP World Tour’s BMW PGA Championship.
The contingent comprised ten members of last year’s winning side, two players with prior Ryder Cup experience, and four men who could be making their debut. "Whenever I'm invited to Adale Manor I’ll be there in a heartbeat," said Jon Rahm. "It’s one of the finest hotel‑golf experiences on the planet." Rahm added that the outing was "a lot of fun, very enjoyable, and a great chance for all of us to hang out and remember why we love what we do." He noted that for those who had never set foot on the course, the trip helped dispel any first‑time nerves they might have felt. Only Rory McIlroy and Rasmus Hojgaard were absent from the dozen‑person group that celebrated a 15‑13 victory in New York.
Former vice‑captain and 2018 winner Alex Noren, along with 2023 team member Nicolai Hojgaard, also made the trip. Rising stars Alex Fitzpatrick and Kristoffer Reitan earned places after impressive rookie seasons on the PGA Tour, while the Spanish newcomers Eugenio Chacarra and Ángel Ayora rounded out the fresh faces.
Most of the squad travelled straight from the Irish Open, with Shane Lowry arriving later after his record‑breaking 11‑stroke win at Trump International Golf Links on home soil. "It was a lovely boys’ day out – we got together, had a nice dinner and talked about what it means to be part of the team and what our plans are going forward," Justin Rose told the Sky Sports podcast.
Rose described the round itself as "very casual, very fun, and just a first look at the course. Having Adale Manor virtually to ourselves is a pretty special experience." He added that for the rookies, the visit "lights a fire in them to want to be part of this group.
It gives them a sense of belonging, of being in Luke’s thoughts, seeing how the captain operates and how the team culture is built." While the trip wasn’t viewed as a game‑changing advantage, Rose emphasized its importance for "culture setting and team cohesion." The European players formed foursomes for a round in calm conditions, some playing the layout for the first time and others reacquainting themselves with a venue that previously hosted the JP McManus Pro‑Am. Rahm praised the course condition, saying, "With the great weather we’ve had in Ireland, the course is in as good a shape as I’ve ever seen.
It’s firm, but not overly fast – they want the public to enjoy the week as well. It’s immaculate." The last two Ryder Cups held in Europe 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 GC in 2023 (the Open d’Italia). That gives Donald a different kind of challenge in Ireland, where the course will be set up specifically for the event. "The strategy for shaping the course is very different when you don’t have a whole season’s worth of data," explained Noren.
"It’s a tough job to configure it to our advantage, but the organisers have a lot of flexibility – they can grow the rough, add tee boxes, change bunker placement. It isn’t a blank sheet of paper, but there’s plenty they can tweak." PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai was invited but had to decline due to a close friend’s wedding in Portugal, and Tom McKibbin – who played two rounds with Donald in Ireland the previous week – was not part of the group. Qualification for the 2025 Ryder Cup is already underway. Points are being earned through the Race to Dubai rankings for the remainder of the season, with FedExCup points joining the mix in January.
Rose expects to see some new faces in the European squad next September. "Freshening things up a bit is always good," Rose said. "You want experience, but a burst of new energy brings fresh ideas, different playing styles and new pairing options." He highlighted the depth of young talent, naming the Højgaard brothers, Ludvig Åberg and Bob MacIntyre as emerging stalwarts. "There’s been a great transition in Europe, so we can afford another crop of youngsters." Europe will likely retain eleven of the twelve players and four of the five vice‑captains from the 2023 victory when they head to New York in 2025.
The Molinari brothers, Edoardo and Francesco, have already secured a third consecutive stint in Donald’s backroom staff. Padraig Harrington has been added as a vice‑captain on home soil, and McIlroy predicts that much of Donald’s core group will reconvene in Ireland for the next edition.
"If there’s ever a place to blend rookies, it’s Europe," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "Continuity is key – between the captain, the players and the vice‑captains. There will inevitably be some new faces, but we won’t see wholesale changes." He added, "The nucleus of our team will stay the same.
Maybe a couple of new guys, but as long as everyone stays healthy and performs, the squad will look very similar to what we’ve had for the past few years." The 2025 Ryder Cup is scheduled for September 17‑19 and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Donald will be aiming to become the first captain ever to win three consecutive Ryder Cups, a milestone that would cement his legacy in the competition’s history. Fans can also follow the BMW PGA Championship with extended live coverage on Sky Sports Golf, starting Thursday at 7:30 a.m., and stream the action via NOW with no‑contract options.