Bjorn names Donald, Harrington, McDowell and Westwood as Ryder Cup Vice Captains

European Captain Thomas Bjørn has named Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood as Vice Captains for the 2018 Ryder Cup. 

Representing a significant changing of the guard, the Vice Captains of Donald, Harrington, McDowell and Westwood join Robert Karlsson to complete Bjorn’s line-up for The 2018 Ryder Cup against the United States at Le Golf National, in France, from September 28-30.

Between the five of them, Bjorn’s Vice Captain’s have amassed a wealth of experience, totalling a combined 26 Ryder Cup appearances and 56 points for Europe between 1997 to 2016. 

Outside The Ryder Cup arena, the newly revealed quartet are also hugely respected for their individual golfing achievements on the global stage, with Harrington and McDowell both Major Champions, while Donald and Westwood have each held the World Number One spot on the Official World Golf Ranking. Added to that, of course, Karlsson is a former European Number One.

Speaking at the 2018 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, Bjørn said: “I am delighted not only to make this announcement today but also in the knowledge that I will have people of the calibre of Luke, Padraig, Robert, Graeme, Lee alongside me at Le Golf National. 

“All five are widely respected throughout the game, are all current players who are well known to the players who will be in our team come September, and they also all possess a knowledge and understanding of what to expect from the golf course at Le Golf National too. 

“You only need to look at the record books to see that their Ryder Cup pedigree speaks for itself. Each of them has played both home and away so they are well versed in the contest and know how to handle the special and unique atmosphere.

“They all possess strong personalities but each of them will also bring something different to the team, giving us great balance. They have forthright opinions which is vital under the spotlight of a Ryder Cup week and is something which can only help our cause as we try and regain the trophy.”

The Vice Captains

Lee Westwood

Lee Westwood arguably brings the most Ryder Cup experience to the team from a player perspective, having appearanced in each of the last 10 contests and winning 23 points, and is still hopeful he has a chance to play roles both on and off the course. 

Westwood said: “I am honoured to have been selected by Thomas to be one of what I think is a pretty impressive quintet of vice captains. Having been fortunate to play in the last ten matches, I am actually looking forward to contributing to Europe’s cause in a slightly different way at this year’s contest. 

“I am sure it is going to be a very different experience for me, but I am relishing having a role in helping Europe win in Paris and, in particular, in assisting Thomas in his role as Captain. 

“Of course, my ideal scenario is that I hit a hot streak of form over the summer and force my way in to the team but, quite honestly, as long as I am able to contribute to the 2018 European team in some way, I am going to be happy.” 

Luke Donald

Luke Donald, a former World No.1 who was on four victorious Ryder Cup sides (and won 10½ points from his 15), said he was delighted to have been chosen. 

Donald said: “I’m delighted and honoured to have been selected by Thomas as one of his Vice Captains for this year’s Ryder Cup in Paris. The Ryder Cup has always held a very special place in my heart – a lot of my fondest memories on the golf course have come during The Ryder Cup. 

“This will be very different for me, watching, rather than playing, but I’m hoping my past experience will help Team Europe regain the Ryder Cup. I can’t wait to get started and help in any way that I can, and I’m very much looking forward to the challenge.”

Padraig Harrington

A six-time Ryder Cup player and two-time Vice Captain (at Gleneagles and Hazeltine), Padraig Harrington is the only one of the newly appointed to have played this kind of role before. 

“I am delighted to have been asked to be part of Thomas’ team of Vice Captains,” he said. “I always want to be a part of the European Ryder Cup Team in any capacity and hope I can provide a positive contribution.

“It will be my third time serving Europe as a Vice Captain, with the last time being alongside Thomas at Hazeltine. We know each other really well, especially in the context of being part of the intense pressures of the backroom team in Ryder Cup week.

“We are all united in the mission of reclaiming The Ryder Cup in Paris and I know Thomas has a very strong strategy in place that will give us absolutely the best possible chance to do this.” 

Graeme McDowell

McDowell, who famously claimed the winning point at Celtic Manor in 2010, has appearaed on four Ryder Cup teams and totalled up nine points from his 15 matches. 

He said: “My four Ryder Cup appearances have been the greatest experiences so far of my career.  The idea of playing for a team in a sport which is inherently individual is something special and it is the reason players love The Ryder Cup so much. Memories and relationships that are forged on and off the course those weeks last a lifetime.

“Having been fortunate enough to win twice around Le Golf National, it is obvious to me what a stunning venue it will serve to be for The 2018 Ryder Cup. I know that I can contribute a huge amount to the team this year given my experience at the venue and appearances in past Ryder Cups. 

“It is a huge honour to be announced as one of Captain Bjørn’s backroom staff and comforting to me that I will be in Paris in some shape or form this year. It goes without saying that playing for Team Europe this year is still a huge goal and one I will be giving 100%, but in the meantime I am very excited to be an integral part of the journey to France and victory for Team Europe at The Ryder Cup.” 

The qualification campaign for the 2018 European Team concludes at the Made in Denmark tournament at Captain Bjørn’s home Silkeborg club on Sunday September 2. This week’s BMW PGA Championship marks the next phase in the qualification process with points earned at European Tour events from Wentworth until Made in Denmark multiplied by 1.5 on both the World Points List and the European Point List.

The 2018 Ryder Cup itself, the 42nd staging of the contest, will be played at Le Golf National, France, from September 28-30, where Europe will try to regain the trophy following defeat at Hazeltine National last year, with the aiming of extending an impressive winning record on home soil which stretches back to Valderrama in 1997.