Patrick Morgan looks back on some encouraging months for European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

Captain

Henrik Stenson was appointed Europe Ryder Cup captain for Rome 2023. Stenson snubbed the chance to captain Europe as he joined LIV series in July 2022. My opinion is that he could of waited until after the Ryder Cup to join LIV but could not turn down the money they offered him. The DP World Tour announced in August 2022 that Luke Donald would step in to captain Europe in Rome. Due to LIV the Europe team will change in Rome as Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey all joined the rebel golf league.

Strong core

The core of Europe’s team for Rome 2023 will be strong which includes current world number one, 2022 FedEx Cup champion and DP World Tour rankings winner Rory McIlroy. 2019 Champion Golfer Of The Year Shane Lowry returned to form in 2022 as he won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Lowry’s performance at Wentworth was remarkable as he had no bogeys for the entire tournament. Jon Rahm was one of the rare heroes at Whistling Straits in 2021 and showed he is still one of the best players in the game as he won both the Spanish Open and DP World Tour Championship in 2022.

McIlroy is not the only European in the top ten of world golf rankings with Rahm in fifth and two-time Hero World Challenge winner Viktor Hovland in ninth. My opinion is that Hovland, Rahm, McIlroy and Lowry will be massive if Europe want to win the Ryder Cup in 2023.

English

Tommy Fleetwood was outstanding in the last Ryder Cup to be held in Europe as he won four out of five matches at Paris National. Fleetwood won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in 2019 but held onto the title for nearly three years due to covid-19.

The Nedbank returned to the schedule in 2022 were the Englishman won his second title at the Gary Player Country Club in three years. He finished in the top five at 2022 DP World Tour Championship and has finished second in two majors in The Open at Royal Portrush in 2019 & the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in 2018.

My opinion is that 2023 will be a big year for Fleetwood with been involved at 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome. Fleetwood won’t be the only Englishman on Donald’s team as you also have 2022 U.S. Open champion at Brookline Matt Fitzpatrick and runner-up at 2022 DP World Tour Championship Tyrell Hatton.

Other winners

Robert MacIntyre returned to the winner’s circle at the 2022 Italian Open at Marco Simeone Golf Club. This is the same course were the 2023 Ryder Cup will be held. It was an impressive win for the Scotsman as he defeated Fitzpatrick in a play-off. In 2014 Stephen Gallacher played at the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles but there has been no Scottish player on the team since then. MacIntyre has a chance of making the team as either automatically or through a pick for Rome due to winning on the same course.

French Open

Guido Migliozzi finished in the top five at 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. The Italian has been quiet but returned to the winner’s circle as he won the 2022 French Open. This was a good victory as winning on Paris National is not easy due to the course having plenty of water. If Migliozzi continues to impress in 2023, he might make the team as a wildcard as he’s an Italian.

Seamus

The Irishman won his second tournament on the PGA Tour at the 2022 Bermuda Championship. He has started the 2022/2023 season in great form as he is leading the FedEx Cup standings. He also has an outside chance of making Donald’s team next year.

Conclusion

Seven certainties in Donald’s team which are McIlroy, Rahm, Hovland, Lowry, Fleetwood, Fitzpatrick and Hatton. The other five places are up for decision and Donald will have all of next year to make up his mind. It’s between Power, MacIntyre, Migliozzi, 2022 Honda Classic winner Sepp Straka, 2022 Irish Open winner Adrian Meronk, Denmark brothers Rasmuis & Nicolai Hoejgaard. Also throw five points winner from Paris National Francesco Molinari and 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose if they both find form again in 2023.

Maybe you might see 2018 Ryder Cup player Alex Noren come back into the fold as he finished tied second at the recent 2022 DP World Tour Championship. How can you forget big hitting Belgian Thomas Pieters as he won the 2022 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and played at 2016 Ryder Cup.

Finally

It will be tough for Europe in 2023 as USA are still extremely strong with beating the Internationals by a score line of 17.5 to 12.5 at 2022 Presidents Cup.