Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald is back in action this week at the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, making his first start since the DS Automobiles 83° Open d’Italia in June as Europe’s qualification race towards Adare Manor officially gets under way.
The former World Number One is playing in just his third event of 2026, and while he's looking forward to the Ryder Cup process starting again this week, he said he's equally looking forward to getting his clubs out and playing in front of home fans.
"I think obviously it's the kick-off again for another qualification for the Ryder Cup at Adare next year, and looking forward to obviously playing myself again," Donald said on Tuesday.
"I haven't played much this year but looking forward to dusting off the clubs and seeing how I do. But obviously being back here and seeing the qualification kick off is fun. It kind of makes everything feel like we're getting closer again to Adare next year.
"I think we always enjoyed, growing up on these shores, coming back home and playing in front of great crowds. Obviously The Belfry has some iconic, memorable stories for me as a kid, watching Ryder Cups, obviously, and quite relevant to how I find my position as captain now."
Yet while he is in the field, the biggest focus will undoubtedly be on the start of the race to make the Ryder Cup.
For 2027, the points race begins at this week's Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, with eligible DP World Tour members able to earn Ryder Cup points across a year-long qualification process ending on Sunday August 22, 2027.
After that, the leading six players from the Ryder Cup Points list will earn automatic qualification for Team Europe, before Donald adds a further six Captain’s Picks in the week commencing Monday August 30, 2027.
"I think whenever qualification period kicks in, especially as I remember as a player, you know, it's sort of like almost like a reset," said Donald.
"You've a different focus, different goals. You suddenly have something else to play for week-in, week-out, not just the event. I know the guys will be looking forward to getting started, earning points and trying to make that team."
Throughout his two previous captaincies, Donald has made it a point to play with and communicate with emerging European talent in the year leading up to the Ryder Cup.
He also pays close attention to results, and while Europe made history in 2025 by fielding an almost identical team to the one that won in 2023, he expects more of a reset this time around.
"I think that was unusual, New York," he said. "I don't think we had ever had so many pass from one Ryder Cup to the next, same DNA. It was almost the same team. It was almost like 11 and a half people that we had. Unusual, though. I expect there to be some new blood this time, and I think that's important.
"We were all rookies at some point as players, and it's important to get out there, and especially being a home one, it's always easier a little bit for rookies to be at home. I expect the team to have a few new faces. I'm sure there will be still some of the guys there that they seem, so far, to be still playing at a high level, a lot of these guys.
"But we'll see what happens in a year. A lot can change."
This week, he'll be teeing up with Finland's Oliver Lindell for the first time, and Eugenio Chacarra, who are both enjoying excellent seasons on the DP World Tour in 2026. Chacarra has claimed both the KLM Open and DS Automobiles Open d'Italia this year, while Lindell has two runner‑up finishes and hasn't missed a cut since last October at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
"I'm constantly watching results week-in and week-out," said Donald. "Playing this week with Eugenio Chacarra. Playing with Oliver Lindell. Not played with Oliver before. He's been very, very consistent over the last year. I haven't met him yet but looking forward to getting to know him better the next two rounds.
"Eugenio I've played with before and he's proven he can win out here on the DP World Tour, and that's a great skill. I'm always looking at these players and in communication with them, and if I think they are coming into where they have enough form for being a potential Ryder Cup player, then, yeah, I'm reaching out to them."
And while the team is uncertain, Donald is assured of one thing: this contest will not be easy against a motivated U.S. Team trying to win an away Ryder Cup for the first time since 1993 at The Belfry.
"I've said that before, that the home Ryder Cups feel more pressure," he said. "There's an expectation that you're meant to win, and I think that brings it's own pressure, try and win three in a row brings even more pressure. Winning consistently in sport is just difficult, it really is.
"I think the U.S. seemed very, very motivated, just reading between the lines, and listening to some of [Jim Furyk's] press conferences and what he said, looking at changing qualification and bringing in new people like Paul Azinger to sort of get some guidance. You know, he has a big focus on the foursomes and correcting that.
"So they seem very motivated and looking at things from a different angle, and I think it's going to be a very challenging Ryder Cup, I honestly do. The home gives us a little bit of an advantage but the Americans are always very, very strong, and as I said, winning consistently in any sport, in anything, is very difficult."
