Major champion takes swipe at Henrik Stenson after Ryder Cup concession
Former Open champion has resigned himself to never leading the blue and gold at the Ryder Cup after trying and failing to be captain three times.
Former Open champion Paul Lawrie has declared he has given up hope of ever becoming the European Ryder Cup captain.
Lawrie, who lifted the claret jug at the 1999 Open Championship, conceded he'll likely be too old when the blue and gold will be looking for another skipper.
Luke Donald presided over Europe's 16½ - 11 ½ victory over Team USA last September in Italy.
Such was the Englishman's popularity he was serenaded with chants of "two more years" by his players as the champagne flowed.
Donald's meticulous attention to detail has proven ever so popular with his players, including Europe's talisman Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy was the leading points scorer at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club and in the immediate aftermath of victory was quick to place on record his appreciation for the former World No.1
"He's been fantastic," said McIlroy. "He took the job in very weird circumstances [but] he's treated it like a full-time job."
McIlroy was alluding to the fact Henrik Stenson was stripped of the honour after joining LIV Golf.
The Northern Irishman also loved Donald's reaction to his furious argument with the American side.
"Luke comes in and sits down and doesn't acknowledge anyone," McIlroy previously said.
"And he looks at me and I'm thinking, 'I could be in trouble here,' but he goes, 'Rory! I f---ing loved that!' And all the boys started banging the table."
Donald has since confirmed he has taken up the option of leading the Europeans next year at Bethpage Black.
It is the right choice, according to the aforementioned Lawrie, who recently told NCG: "I would've thought the captaincy is gone for me now.
"I tried three times to be the captain. I tried for Gleneagles, but I was a bit late deciding that I wanted to do it there.
"They chose McGinley who did a magnificent job, and then I went for it in 2018, and I think it was down to Thomas Bjorn and myself, and they chose Thomas."
Lawrie continued: "Again, Thomas did a fantastic job, fair enough.
"And then, I went for it again in Rome and didn't get it and they wrongly gave it to Stenson, because I think everyone could see he was thinking about going to LIV or talking about LIV and that wasn't allowed at the time.
"Then Luke got it and Luke was magnificent. Luke was up there as much as McGinley for me with the job he did, considering the result of the previous outing that they had.
"I've always said that if you're a winning captain, you should be allowed to defend. So the fact that he's got it again is the right thing to do."
The 2025 Ryder Cup will be staged at Bethpage Black over 22-28 September.
Read more:
- Phil Mickelson joins Rory McIlroy in accepting new reality: "I'm okay with that"
- Will Rahm and Hatton be on Ryder Cup team? Donald: "it's hard to answer that..."
- Rory McIlroy claim by Ryder Cup teammate denied: "Has he been drinking?"
- Lee Westwood questions timing of Luke Donald's Ryder Cup reappointment
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