Even though the next Ryder Cup is still more than a year away, captain Luke Donald has already gathered a large portion of his prospective squad for an early‑season outing at Ireland’s luxurious Adare Manor. While the gathering wasn’t as exhaustive as the scouting trips he organised before the 2018 victory at Marco Simone or the 2021 triumph at Bethpage Black, it gave many of the players a first‑hand look at the course that will host the 2025 showdown. The group was a blend of seasoned Ryder Cup veterans and a handful of newcomers who could earn their first cap. After the Amgen Irish Open, the contingent enjoyed a team dinner and then played a full 18‑hole round on Monday.
In total, sixteen golfers joined Donald and his vice‑captains for the session before they headed off to the DP World Tour’s BMW PGA Championship. The lineup featured ten members of last year’s winning side, two former Ryder Cup participants and four players who are knocking on the door of their inaugural appearance.
"Whenever I'm invited to Adare Manor, I jump at the chance," said world No. 1 Jon Rahm. "It’s one of the finest hotel‑course experiences on the planet.
It was a lot of fun and a great way for us to get together and remember why we love what we do. For those who have never set foot there, it’s a chance to shake off the first‑time nerves and get comfortable with the surroundings." Only Rory McIlroy and Rasmus Hojgaard were absent from Donald’s twelve‑man party that celebrated a 15‑13 win 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 spots after impressive rookie seasons on the PGA Tour, while Spaniards Eugenio Chacarra and Ángel Ayora represented the newest wave of European talent.
Most of the group arrived straight from the Irish Open; Shane Lowry joined later after his record‑breaking 11‑stroke victory at Trump International Golf Links in his native country. "It was a lovely boys’ day out – we got together, had a nice dinner and talked about what it means to be on the team and where we want to go from here," veteran Justin Rose told the Sky Sports podcast. "The round itself was very relaxed, a first look at the course, and having Adare Manor almost to ourselves was a special experience. For the rookies it really lights a fire – they feel like they’re already part of the group, seeing how Luke thinks, how he runs things and how the captain approaches the challenge.
It isn’t a game‑changing trip that gives us a huge advantage, but it is crucial for building culture and camaraderie." The Europeans played in foursomes under calm conditions, some experiencing the layout for the first time while others refreshed their memories of the venue, which previously hosted the JP McManus Pro‑Am. Rahm praised the course condition, noting that the recent fine weather had left the fairways in "as good a shape as I’ve ever seen" – firm, but not overly fast, as the organizers wanted to keep the event enjoyable for the public. "It was immaculate," he added.
Unlike the previous two European‑hosted Ryder Cups, which took place on courses that also serve as regular DP World Tour stops (Le Golf National in 2018 and Marco Simone in 2023), Adare Manor is a standalone venue. That presents a different set of challenges for Donald and his staff. "We have far less data to work with than on a regular tour event," explained Alex Noren. "Setting up the course to suit us is a complex task – we can shape the rough, adjust tee boxes and even alter the layout, but it’s not a blank sheet of paper.
It’s about finding the right balance to give us an edge without compromising the integrity of the event." PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai had been invited but could not attend due to a close friend’s wedding in Portugal, and Tom McKibbin – who spent 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 hinted that the team could see fresh faces next September, saying, "Injecting a bit of new energy is always good.
Experience is vital, but fresh ideas, different playing styles and new pairing options keep the team dynamic." He added that the transition from the 2021 venue at Whistling Straits to Rome in 2023 had been smooth and helped solidify players who later became key contributors at Bethpage. "We have a wealth of young talent – the Højgaard brothers, Ludvig Åberg, Bob MacIntyre – they’re already becoming stalwarts. Europe has managed a great generational shift, so we can comfortably bring in another batch of youngsters." Looking ahead, Europe will retain eleven of the twelve players and four of the five vice‑captains from the 2023 victory for the 2025 edition in New York, while the Molinari brothers, Edoardo and Francesco, are already confirmed for a third consecutive stint in Donald’s backroom staff. Padraig Harrington has been added as a vice‑captain on home soil, and McIlroy expects that the core of Donald’s last two teams will largely stay together for the Irish event.
"If there’s a place to blend rookies, it’s Europe," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "Continuity is key – between the captain, the players and the vice‑captains.
We’ll inevitably have a few new faces, but there won’t be wholesale changes. The nucleus of the team will remain the same, and as long as everyone stays healthy and performs, we’ll have a very similar squad to what we’ve built over 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 steer his side to three consecutive victories.
The upcoming BMW PGA Championship will provide further insight into how the players are shaping up, with live coverage beginning Thursday at 7:30 a.m. on Sky Sports Golf and streaming options available via NOW.