Graeme McDowell took his name out of contention to be the European Ryder Cup captain in Italy in 2023, leaving the race down to four candidates.
The Ryder Cup will not be coming to Bolton. The proposals for a £414million development were rejected by town planners. So where will the biennial event be played in 2031?
Luke Donald is a strong candidate to captain Team Europe at the Ryder Cup in 2023 and he could provide the calm manner needed to nullify Team USA's vibrance.
Webb Simpson has said he dreams of one day leading the United States in the Ryder Cup and how hard it was to watch Steve Stricker's side from his couch.