Ryder Cup countdown: Donald's shot at history and Ireland's chance to shine

The Ryder Cup at Adare Manor will come nine years on from a chastening experience for Jim Fuyrk at Le Golf National but he has learned lessons since

Luke Donald can become the first Ryder Cup captain to win three consecutive editions of the competition. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Donald chases historic hat-trick

History will beckon for Luke Donald and his European team at Adare Manor next September 17-19 if they can lift the Ryder Cup, a feat that would make Donald the first captain from either side to win three consecutive editions. 

And what a moment that would be if it could be delivered on an Irish golf course, roared on by a predominately Irish crowd with a sell-out 50,000 for each of the five days adorning this superb Co. Limerick amphitheatre.

If the emotional drama of the K Club in 2006, when the Ryder Cup made its first and only visit here to date, is to be any guide, this 46th and centenary edition of the greatest team event in golf will be a sporting event to embrace and cherish as a genuine “I was there” moment.

Furyk returns with lessons learned

There are no guarantees of course, and though recent European victories have come against the odds against higher ranked American opponents, Donald will be coming up what seems to be a thoughtful and formidable opponent in US Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk.

Next year’s matches will come nine years on from Furyk’s debut as US Ryder Cup captain when his head to head with Europe’s Thomas Bjorn went badly wrong at Paris’s Le Golf National, the home side demolishing the Americans 17.5 to 10.5.

It was a chastening moment for Furyk but his second stab at captaincy in these matches comes after further exposure to team golf, as a winning Presidents Cup skipper in 2024 and through numerous vice captaincies.

Those experiences have already resulted in changes to US selection policies and Furyk has made further changes and pinpointed necessary fixes to the way the Americans have done their business in the past. This will be no pushover in the captaincy contest.

A test of Irish supporters' sporting spirit

For all the excitement surrounding the return of the Ryder Cup to Irish soil, there will be pressure on home supporters to back Team Europe in the best way possible, by backing their own heroes rather than trying to undermine their opponents.

Golf’s reputation has been tarnished by recent stagings of the Ryder Cup on American soil, when home fans crossed the line of acceptable behaviour in their heckling of European players.

Irish fans have an opportunity to restore golf’s standing and a providing the backdrop to a clean, fair fight at Adare Manor is essential for both the integrity of the Ryder Cup and the game in general. Both captains have confidence they will deliver, but the burden of proof rests in the way Adare’s galleries carry themselves for three days next September.

No guarantees for McIlroy and Lowry

After a stellar few months for Irish golf with Rory McIlroy’s successful Masters defence and Shane Lowry’s commanding Irish Open victory at Doonbeg, the appetite of home supporters has been well and truly whetted for what’s to come at next year’s Ryder Cup in Co. Limerick.

Both men deserve their places on Luke Donald’s team and their previous Ryder Cup exploits for Europe suggest they will be selected by the captain if they do not qualify automatically, as unlikely as that sounds in McIlroy’s case. Yet their captain will not guarantee their positions on his 12-man side, stating “every person is going to have to earn their way”.

You would expect nothing else from the captain, but then again, he will also consider the massive boost both Irishmen would bring to the Adare Manor galleries and the huge burst of energy their presence would generate for his side in their bid to defeat the Americans an extend a winning streak on European soil going back to 1995.

An omen as McManus's dream draws closer

For those visiting Adare Manor, and indeed Limerick for the first time over the past few days as the Ryder Cup has celebrated its Year To Go milestone with concerts, galas, banquets and community visits, there will be eager anticipation for the actual matches when they get underway here next September 17-19.

That is testament to Adare Manor custodian JP McManus and his family, whose dream to bring the Ryder Cup back to Ireland for the first time since its initial visit to the K Club in 2006 is now within touching distance, 49 weeks away.

And if there was ever a good omen for its success in 2027 it came as captains Donald and Furyk conducted their media conference in the exclusive resort hotel’s lavish ballroom. A little way up the road at Galway racecourse, McManus’s horse Inthenickoftime, won the 2:20 handicap hurdle.