Ryder Cup 2023 captains: The United States will compete against Europe in the 2023 Ryder Cup beginning on September 29.The 44th edition of the tournament will be held at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Guidonia Montecelio, Italy.
There have been numerous influential team commanders throughout the competition’s history. This year, Zach Johnson will represent the United States, while Luke Donald will lead Europe.
Ryder Cup 2023 captains
Captain of Team USA: Zach Johnson
After 2021 captain Steve Stricker led the United States to victory at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, Johnson has large shoes to fill. Johnson has served as vice-captain in the previous two Ryder Cups.
The Iowa City native played in five Ryder Cups (won in 2016) and is still active on the PGA Tour. He has won two majors, including the Masters in 2007 and the Open Championship in 2015.
Captain of Team Europe: Luke Donald
The 45-year-old golfer has won the Ryder Cup on all four occasions he has participated as a player. Additionally, he served as vice-captain in 2021 and 2018.
Donald has never won a major championship, but he was ranked No. 1 in the Official World Golf Rankings for 56 weeks and has five PGA Tour victories. Henrik Stenson was the original captain of team Europe, but he became ineligible and was replaced by Luke Donald.
Ryder Cup 2023 vice-captains
Each team features five vice-captains.
American vice-captains
Each vice-captain for the United States has participated in a Ryder Cup.
Stewart Cink
The 2009 Open Champion is making his first appearance in a leadership capacity at the Ryder Cup. Cink competed in five Ryder Cups, claiming victory in 2008 at Valhalla Golf Club.
Fred Couples
Couples has previously captained the United States in a Presidents Cup and participated in five Ryder Cups. His smooth swing, 1992 Masters victory, and 15 PGA Tour victories have made him one of the most prominent golfers in history.
Jim Furyk
Jim Furyk has extensive experience in international team competitions, including the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup. At the 2018 Ryder Cup in France, Team USA was captained by the 2003 U.S. Open champion.
Davis Love III
The 59-year-old has served as America’s Ryder Cup captain twice, winning in 2016 and losing in 2012. The native of Charlotte, North Carolina also lead the United States to victory as captain during last year’s Presidents Cup. Love III won twenty-one times on the PGA Tour, including the 1997 PGA Championship.
Steve Stricker
Stricker won the most recent Ryder Cup as captain of the United States and has participated three times as a player. He has twelve PGA Tour victories and is presently winning on the senior tour.
Europe’s vice-captains
Two vice-captains of Europe have led the team to victory as captains.
Thomas Bjorn
The “Great Dane” led Europe to victory at the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris and has served as a vice-captain four times. Bjorn won 15 times on the DP World Tour and tied for second in three major championships.
Nicolas Colsaerts
Colsaerts participated in one Ryder Cup as a player, and Europe won the “Miracle at Medinah” He was the first Belgian to ever participate in the competition.
Edoardo Molinari
Molinari has one Ryder Cup appearance and three DP World Tour wins.
Francesco Molinari
The younger brother of Edoardo will offer a wealth of coaching experience to the team in his native country. The first Italian to win a major championship went 5-0 in 2018 and won all three Ryder Cups in which he participated.
Jose Maria Olazabal
Presence and leadership of Olazabal will likely not be taken for granted.In 2012, he led Europe to a narrow victory over the United States in the Ryder Cup Miracle at Medinah. Europe began the final day trailing 10-6, but ultimately prevailed 14.5-13.5.
The Spaniard’s playing record was 18-8-5, and he has won five Ryder Cups (four as a player and one as captain). Due to his two Masters victories, Olazabal also possesses two Green Jackets. He has won six times on the PGA Tour and 23 times on the DP World Tour, the ninth-highest total in history.
Rugby World Cup 2023: Where to watch England vs Japan on TV, Platform to enjoy LIVE Stream
How did captains choose their teams?
Each team captain had six captain’s picks to select golfers they considered appropriate for their respective teams. The other six competitors qualified automatically based on their point totals.
Zach Johnson’s captain’s picks
- Sam Burns
- Rickie Fowler
- Brooks Koepka
- Collin Morikawa
- Jordan Spieth
- Justin Thomas
Luke Donald’s captain’s picks
- Ludvig Åberg
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Nicolai Højgaard
- Shane Lowry
- Justin Rose
- Sepp Strak
