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<\/p>\nLuke Donald has laid down the gauntlet to Tiger Woods after Europe’s Ryder Cup-winning captain challenged the American to lead the USA team against him in 2025. Englishman Donald, who lives in Florida and plays on the PGA Tour, proved to be the perfect skipper for the European team at Rome’s Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in September, masterminding a brilliant 16.5-11.5 home victory that brought the trophy back into European hands and ensured that the American’s winless streak on away soil will stretch to at least 34 years.<\/p>\n
Donald’s calculated approach, ability to foster team spirit and unflappable demeanour made him an almost automatic choice to continue in the role of captain at New York’s notorious Bethpage Black in 2025. And his reappointment was officially confirmed on Wednesday, much to the delight of the European players.<\/p>\n
In stark contrast, the USA team is in urgent need of a fresh start with Woods touted as the favourite to spearhead a fightback on home soil in two years’ time. The prospect of the game’s all-time great leading his country at a Ryder Cup has whetted the appetite of Americans, but it turns out that Donald is just as keen to see the 15-time Major champion appointed US skipper as anyone else.<\/p>\n
As per Sky Sports, Donald said: “The desire to win, whoever the captain is, is strong. Yeah, obviously, Tiger’s been mentioned as a possible candidate and we’ll have to wait and see. If it’s him great, if it’s someone else, great.<\/p>\n
“In the meantime, my role is to try and, again, start the preparations and try and figure out the best opportunity for us to be successful again come September in 2025 in New York. So that’s really my focus.<\/p>\n
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“I’ve got to play a lot of times with Tiger in my career. I have great admiration for what he’s done, what he’s done in the game. You would think he was going to be a Ryder Cup captain at some point and if it’s this time, great, if it’s another time, great, but, again, it’s not really my focus.<\/p>\n
“Again, it’s something a little bit out of my control, so I’m not really trying to think about it and once it happens, then we’ll address it. But if it’s Tiger or someone else, again, I’m looking forward to the challenge of being captain once more.”<\/p>\n
Regardless of whether Woods becomes US captain for 2025 or not, Donald faces the daunting task of trying to repeat the European heroics of Rome in New York. No European team has won on American soil since 2012 when a side that included Donald as a player produced a stunning comeback to win the ‘Miracle of Medinah’.<\/p>\n
But arguably there would be even more pressure on Woods, should he take up the challenge, as anything other than a victory on home soil would be considered a failure Stateside and tarnish his remarkable sporting reputation.<\/p>\n
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