9 hours ago
3
Donald's reappointment always felt like a no-brainer – certainly from the perspective of the European Ryder Cup committee trying mastermind another home victory, the players who adore and admire the Englishman, and the thousands of European fans who jubilantly chanted "two more years" as they partied at Bethpage.
The only one who seemed to need convincing was Donald himself.
Donald has thrown everything into the role - arguably more than any other captain in the 99-year history of the iconic event. So it is no surprise he wanted to take his time over the decision whether to continue or not.
On the morning after Europe clung on to victory, Donald looked exhausted when he sat down for a BBC Sport interview.
It was not a hangover from the celebrations. It was a hangover from the mental and physical exertions spent over the whole Bethpage cycle.
What Donald had to weigh up was whether he had enough energy to go through another 18 months of meticulous research, preparation and implementation.
His leadership has been characterised by warm man-management and attention to detail.
How many captains regularly message a wide pool of playing candidates in an attempt to make each one of them feel integral to the team?
How many captains have asked for cracks in hotel doors to be covered because they let too much light into the rooms and could disrupt sleep?
Minor moves in a macro machine. That is what Donald has built his Ryder Cup dynasty on.
In the midst of the beer-swilling the Bethpage shindig, Shane Lowry remarked that whoever follows Donald – whenever that might be – will have to fill a void as big as the one left by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
If Donald manages to complete a rare Treble, like Fergie did in 1999, his place in the pantheons of British sporting leaders will also be secured.
