Dual winning European Ryder Cup captains Thomas Bjorn and Bernhard Langer agree Luke Donald should retain the European Ryder Cup captaincy reins heading into next year’s 100th anniversary hosting of the biennial event in Ireland.
Donald remains undecided if he’ll accept the 2027 Adare Manor captaincy and, if so, become just the fourth either GB&I/European team captain in succession to accept the leading role for a third straight Ryder Cup.
Bjorn captained Europe to a stunning seven-point success in 2018 at Le National outside of Versailles in France.
And while no longer on the Ryder Cup Captain selection panel, the champion Dane remains still highly regarded when it comes to all matters Ryder Cup.
EXCLUSIVE ….
Dual former @RyderCupEurope captains Bernhard Langer and Thomas Bjorn call on @LukeDonald to remain as 2027 captain @TheAdareManor
Read: https://t.co/TNL743QXRo
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✅ @TOURMISS @Record_Sport (Bernie ) pic.twitter.com/TFmGhuU5FO
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) February 12, 2026
He said: “I think Luke should stay on board as captain. I don’t think he has anything to lose but it’s just the current group of European Team players respond to Luke very well.
“As well, there’s every reason some nine or 10 of the players, who have been on the last two European sides, will be back on the team next year, so for that reason I believe it’s important he’s there at Adare Manor as captain.
“You could argue he could stand down and rest on his double winning laurels, but I would just like to see him be there for one more occasion.
“I think the players also want Luke to be there next year which is a most important consideration in picking a new captain, given he’s the captain the players want.
“So, Luke is an obvious choice”.
Bjorn, speaking ahead of this week’s Champions Tour event in Naples, also commented: “I can understand why he would want to have a think about it, as it will always be in the back of his mind thinking ‘do I lose something if I captain the side again?’ but I don’t think he will lose anything even should Europe lose at Adare Manor.
“As well, Luke’s now aged 48 so he’s still in that age bracket before he begins focussing on the next chapter of his career and that’s out here on the Champions Tour.”
Langer tees-up at this week’s Chubb Classic looking to set a Chanpions Tour record in winning the same event six times among his record-setting 47 wins since a first over-50s tour victory in 2007.
The now 68-year-old captained Europe to a 11-point triumph in the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills, and he fully agrees with Bjorn.
Langer said: “Luke has done an amazing job and he’s built a team around him that knows what it takes to win a Ryder Cup and then to successfully defend it.
“As well, they know what is important and what is not, and they each get along so well. They all seem to like Luke, so I don’t see a reason for the need for Europe to be looking for a new captain.
“In my day as captain it was like you captained a team and there would be four or five other guys waiting there to be appointed the next captain.
“So, my advice would be for Luke to accept the role of remaining on board as the European captain”.
As mentioned, Langer tees-up this week on the Tiburon host course looking to create another first.
He said: “I’ve won on this course twice. I’ve won the tournament five times, I should say.
“So, I love the golf course. I live two hours east of here in Boca, so the grasses are very similar where I practice. It”s kind of a home game, next to the Boca event, and I feel very comfortable around here. It’s an easy drive across. I stay with friends.
“Everything is very comfortable and wonderful. The tournament does a great job in running the event, the way they treat us here. The weather is usually quite nice this time of the year. The golf course presents itself in generally great condition.
“It’s a win-win-win situation coming here this time of the year to Naples, and I seem to feel this each year I’m here”.
Joining the duo of European Ryder Cup captains this week in Florida is Darren Clarke.
