“We like to follow a template” – Ryder Cup skipper Luke Donald opens up on team Europe’s playing style while speaking about Marco Simone

Europe's Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald shed some light on the team's playing style in the upcoming event, during a Q&A session on Monday (September 18).

The 2023 Ryder Cup takes place on September 29 to October 1 at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy. After having played four times (2004, 2006, 2010, 2012) as a player, Donald is now set to captain Europe for the first time.

During the Q&A session, speaking about the playing strategy of the European squad at Marco Simone, Donald said (as per Golfweek):

"There is no surprise that in Team Europe when playing, we like to follow a template that has been successful for us. We like to make it reasonably challenging down the fairways. We have a deep dive into statistics on what our potential team does well and same with the potential U.S. team."

"It is important to do so as it gives one a slight edge, which is very hard to do as players are very successful and accomplished. They are all amazing players. It is important to focus and do the little things that might give you a slight edge in the matches."

Last year Donald was announced as Europe's cptain for the Ryder Cup, which, fo him, was a very 'surreal' moment. He added that it felt like a lifetime achievement and that it's a privilege to be nominated as a captain:

"It is something that I do not take lightly. I think about it every day and more specifically around what we can do to give our team the best chance of success and to build that right culture and environment."

The four-time member of the winning European team is hopeful that his first event as a captain would be good for him, terming it the opportunity of a lifetime.

Team US are the defending champions, as they beat Europe in the 2021 Ryder Cup 19-9, the biggest margin in the event since 1967. However, Europe has won seven of the last ten editions and are unbeaten at home since 1993.

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Ryder Cup squad details

Team Captains Luke Donald and Zach Johnson pose for a photograph with the Ryder Cup Trophy during the Year to Go Media Event on October 4, 2022

Luke Donald is captaining the European team in the 44th Ryder Cup. Francesco Molinari, Edoardo Molinari, Jose Maria Olazabal, Thomas Bjorn and Nicolas Colsaerts are the vice-captains.

Zach Johnson will lead the Americans, with Stewart Cink, Steve Stricker, Davis Love III, Jim Furyk and Fred Couples being his vice-captains.

Here are the team details for both squads for the Ryder Cup:

Team USA

• Scottie Scheffler
• Wyndham Clark
• Max Homa
• Brian Harman
• Xander Schauffele
• Patrick Cantlay
• Sam Burns
• Collin Morikawa
• Rickie Fowler
• Brooks Koepka
• Jordan Spieth
• Justin Thomas

Team Europe

• Jon Rahm
• Rory McIlroy
• Matt Fitzpatrick
• Viktor Hovland
• Tyrrell Hatton
• Robert McIntyre
• Nicolai Hojgaard
• Shane Lowry
• Ludvig Aberg
• Sepp Straka
• Tommy Fleetwood
• Justin Rose