Donald return 'wonderful' for Europe - McIlroy

ByAndy Gray

BBC Sport NI Journalist

Rory McIlroy says that Luke Donald's return for a third Ryder Cup as Europe's captain is a "huge advantage", and feels the competition is "bigger than any one person" after doubts over Jon Rahm's eligibility for 2027.

Donald will attempt to become the first captain to win three Ryder Cups in a row after his third term was confirmed for next year's edition in Ireland.

The 48-year-old, who also won the Ryder Cup four times as a player and had two terms as a vice-captain, led Europe to victory in Rome in 2023 and to a famous win over the USA at Bethpage in September.

Speaking before the Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy said it was "wonderful" and "amazing" to have Donald back for Adare Manor.

"I think it's obviously a huge advantage for the European team to have that continuity and that consistency," five-time major winner McIlroy said.

"I was sort of banging on that drum going into Bethpage and we'll have it even more so again.

"There's not one player or one person behind the scenes that helps with Ryder Cup Europe that isn't thrilled that Luke agreed to come back and do it again."

McIlroy, who lives on the same street as Donald, said he had spoken to the former world number one about staying on for a third term in "quite a few talks before the new year".

After the announcement, Donald told BBC Sport that he wanted to take some time after the last Ryder Cup to enjoy the victory, which came under a dramatic backdrop due to the highly charged atmosphere in New York.

McIlroy said "it's a massive part of your life" so he understood why Donald wanted to take his time over committing for 2027.

"It's a big time commitment. He puts a lot into it, but he's put his golf career on hold for six years to do this," said the Northern Ireland player.

"He has to feel like everything else that's going on is right, and Diane [Donald's wife] has to be into it. The kids have to be into it and it's a lot more than just his decision at the end of the day."

McIlroy said he was determined to play a key role at Adare Manor, the first time he would play a Ryder Cup on the island of Ireland.

"At the end of the day, we all see the opportunity for him to go down as the greatest Ryder Cup captain ever if we can go and win in Ireland.

"I'm excited for him and for the opportunity that he has.

"I just want to be a part of that team to help him try to make that history."

Despite excitement surrounding Donald's return, there are doubts about the eligibility of two-time major winner Rahm for the 2027 competition amid a dispute with the DP World Tour.

On Tuesday, the Spaniard said the tour is "extorting players" while outlining why he is not among a group of LIV Golf competitors to have signed a settlement enabling them to play in both organisations' tournaments.

In February, eight players were granted releases by the DP World Tour to participate in LIV Golf events this year, allowing them to retain memberships and remain eligible for Ryder Cup selection.

Donald said he would "love" to have Rahm available for Adare Manor, but McIlroy said the Ryder Cup "is bigger than all of us".

"We come and go. Players pass through the system and it's the platform that's the big thing," McIlroy said.

"We should all be grateful that we have a platform like the Ryder Cup that we can play on, and that we can showcase our skills and be a part of something that's obviously way bigger than ourselves.

"At the end of the day it's about the team and and no one player is bigger than the team."

McIlroy said that Rahm was "well within his rights to think that way" but he felt it was "a really generous deal".

The waiver included an agreement to pay outstanding fines reportedly in the region of £2.5m levied for playing in LIV events without DP World Tour permission, the withdrawal of all pending appeals and an acceptance to take part in stipulated DP World Tour tournaments.

McIlroy added that playing in four events outside of majors "wasn't a heavy lift" and he "doesn't see what more the European Tour can do to accommodate these guys".

"There's a reason that eight of the nine took it, because they probably think the same thing. One guy thinks a little differently, and that's a shame," McIlroy added.

"It's a much softer deal than what Brooks [Koepka] took to come back and play on the PGA Tour.

"The European Tour can always can only do so much to accommodate these guys, so if you want to play in the Ryder Cup then you have to be a member of the DP World Tour.

"To be a member of the DP World Tour, you have to abide by the rules and regulations."