PALM BEACH GARDENS (Fla.) — Luke Donald’s role as European Ryder Cup captain is difficult enough without having to determine who is eligible or double as a referee while still playing a full PGA Tour schedule.
Donald could be further stressed by the bad blood between ex-friends and Ryder Cup teammates Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy .
Donald stated, “If we reach a point where someone qualifies from LIV and there’s disagreements among players, we’re going have to figure out before.” My job as captain is create a culture that allows the team to succeed. It doesn’t matter what it is, I have to do that job, no matter who those 12 guys are.
Donald and Zach Johnson, his American counterpart in September’s Ryder Cup are uncertain whether LIV’s golfers can qualify or be allowed to participate in the event, which is scheduled for Sept. 28-30, Italy.
Johnson and Donald were part of the same group for the Honda Classic’s first two rounds.
“Luke, Zach know that their battle isn’t on the Honda Classic golf course; theirs is to be played in September,” Padraig Harrington (the 2020 European Ryder Cup team captain) said. He is the third member of Honda’s group.
LIV golfers have been banned from the PGA Tour and are now sliding down the rankings, regardless of whether it’s the FedEx Cup ranking or Official World Golf Ranking.
No LIV golfer on either side is currently close to qualifying for Ryder Cup.
The U.S. team consists of six captain’s choices and the top six eligible players from the points rankings. The European team consists of the top three players eligible from each European Points List or World Points List plus six captain’s choices.
Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson were the U.S. players who joined LIV two years ago at Whistling Strits in Wisconsin. LIV’s Phil Mickelson was vice-captain. European players who quit the PGA Tour in 2021 include Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia, Bernd Wiesberger, Ian Poulter and Bernd Wiesberger. Three vice-captains were on LIV now: Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell, as well as Henrik Stenson.
After joining LIV, Stenson was resigned as 2023 Ryder Cup Captain and was replaced with Donald.
Zach Johnson stated, “I’m not worried about it right now at any time. “There is still so much uncertainty and fluidity.”
Donald Trump and Johnson don’t need the friction created by players siding with the Saudi-backed league. This is a matter of pride for America and Europe at the biennial event.
Donald Johnson and Johnson are both coaches who want to foster team unity. They are not therapists or babysitters for feuding grownmen, some of which have ended long-lasting friendships.
McIlroy’s bad blood with LIV’s Garcia (ex-friends who attended each others’ weddings) dominates Europe’s headlines. McIlroy’s immature behavior was reflected in Garcia’s statement that McIlroy removed Garcia from his phone following an angry text message from Garcia.
Donald stated, “All that I can do is be present in the moment and deal with what happens before me.” “I don’t look ahead too much. “Right now, I’m more focused on the guys scoring points week in and week out.
“The guys at LIV. … I will certainly keep an eye out for those. “My focus is on the guys who are committed to making the team.”
Donald and Johnson finished their two-day stay on the Champion Course without any trash-talking, taunting or Johnson breaking out into “U.S.A.,” chants.
Donald will be able to spend more time with his team this weekend than Johnson. Donald missed the cut, having shot 76 on Friday. Johnson is now 5 under following a 68/67.
They will most likely meet again, with both teams planning to play as many matches as possible in the year leading up to the Ryder Cup.
Johnson stated, “We’re all in this together.” Johnson stated, “Bottom line, we’re ultra competitive first, so I think that we’re probably similar to the way we approach it, but also in how we behave. He is very chilled. My blood probably has a bit more of a spike or drop.
“We’ll lead. “I’m confident that we will both lead. Let the 12 golf clubs of our players do the talking.
