Luke Donald sat down for dinner with Michael Jordan a few weeks ago. That is no great surprise, because they have been close friends for years, but the words spoken about the Ryder Cup were less expected.
‘He tipped Europe to win,’ Donald said. ‘That’s what he told me but maybe don’t tell the Americans that. Take whatever you want out of that one.’
A pinch of salt, maybe, because no figure has stood as a more visible cheerleader for the US at the Ryder Cup.
As it happens, Donald disclosed that Jordan has informed him he will not be present at Marco Simone in Rome this week – the first Cup he has missed since 1997. In an arena so inclined towards symbolism that the European class of 2014 filled tanks in their team room with gold and blue fish, it might even be perceived as an early hole in favour of the home team.
Clutching at straws, perhaps, but the links between Jordan and Donald are interesting. They might chime as an unusual couple, but they have been confidants for over a decade and live on the same street in a gated community in Jupiter, Florida. At the heart of it are shared traits, because Donald didn’t get to world No 1 in an era of bigger hitters by accident.
Europe captain Luke Donald (L) and Michael Jordan (R) have been close friends for years
Golf fan Jordan will not be present in Rome — the first Ryder Cup he has missed since 1997
‘You need some ruthlessness,’ Donald said, but it is the depth of his Cup obsession that has been so conspicuous throughout this strangest of cycles, which started with him being snubbed for the captaincy in favour of Henrik Stenson, before LIV turned the Swede’s head and created an opening.
‘I was disappointed not to get it first time,’ he said. ‘There was a lot of talk in the media that I was probably the favourite and I didn’t get it but that’s water under the bridge. I got given the second opportunity and I plan to make the most of it.
‘I’ve said it many times – I had a pretty solid individual career. But the moments I got to share with those team-mates and in Ryder Cups (where he won all four he contested), stick with you longer. You remember those more because of that shared culture and you get to share it with each other. This would this would be the greatest moment in my career.’
His task since taking the position has been a formidable – aside from dealing with the political soap opera of his sport, the loss at Whistling Straits in 2021 was inflicted with a record margin. The US appear stronger on paper this time as well, but as ever the question is whether home advantage and a good captain can bridge the gap.
In the sense of the latter, there is persistent line of thought that it is the most overblown role in sport, but Donald has at least approached it with the utmost seriousness. His frequent criss-crossing of the Atlantic to monitor his players has been a glaring contrast to his US counterpart, Zach Johnson, who had the option to call on LIV golfers but admitted in May that he wasn’t even watching them on television.
Donald has seeming been more diligent, with a deliberate attempt to emulate the detail-focused, inclusive style of Bernhard Langer, the same captain who gave him his debut in 2004. ‘I took a lot from him,’ said Donald. ‘Across the past 14 months I have woken up often in the night with a lot of thoughts, writing things down, stuff I am I remembering. He did an amazing job.
‘I think we all felt very comfortable and going back to my captaincy, that clarity, that consistency is really important, and knowing that you don’t know everything and you can learn off other people.’
Of course, the Cup is famous for captains who apparently leave no stone unturned, only to get clobbered with rocks in defeat. Donald’s team has a brilliant top order of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland, and the excitement factor of Ludvig Aberg, but the length of its tail makes the US favourites. Donald is happy for Johnson to carry that pressure as they chase a first away win since 1993.
‘We have some superstars,’ he said. ‘We have a great core of great players and then we have some young guys and anything’s possible with these guys. But we’re coming off the worst loss we’ve ever had and the Americans are going to be betting favourites.
‘We will never underestimate the Americans. They are very strong and they have some great partnerships. Our hands are full, but I certainly feel pretty good about our team.’
