Ryder Cup excitement intensifying as Luke Donald's Team Europe make final outing at Wentworth

It’s a big week in more ways than one for Luke Donald and his European Ryder Cup team at the BMW PGA Championship.

The third Rolex Series event of the DP World Tour season sees 11 of Donald’s 12-man team assemble at Wentworth Club for what will be their final competitive outing before Bethpage later this month.

On the back of Rory McIlroy winning the Amgen Irish Open and Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose both winning on the PGA TOUR during the FedExCup Playoffs, there is no shortage of momentum within the European ranks and another triumph in Surrey would serve as a further statement of intent.

With increased prize money, Race to Dubai and world ranking points on offer, incentive is also not lacking, and Donald is in no doubt his charges are out to put in strong performances over the West Course.

“It’s on everybody’s mind," said Donald, with the Ryder Cup the dominant focus as he spoke to the media at Wentworth.

"We are all concentrating on this week, especially my team.

"They want to go out and play well, continue their great form which has been amazing to see as a Captain and I am sure they will.

"So, play this week, have a good week and then shift the focus to the Ryder Cup."

With only Rasmus Højgaard swapping in for twin brother Nicolai from the winning side at Marco Simone in 2023, and Donald’s backroom staff largely unchanged, there is a great sense of continuity.

But despite the strong connections that have already been forged, a dinner was arranged on Tuesday evening to bring together players, staff, caddies, wives and girlfriends in a relaxed setting.

“A little bit of strategy was talked about, but it was mostly an event to get together,” said Donald, who is bidding to become the first Captain from either side to win back-to-back Ryder Cups since Tony Jacklin in 1985 and 1987.

“It's just a good opportunity for us to be together.”

At the conclusion of the week, the European team will head stateside for a two-day practice trip at Bethpage, with Sepp Straka – absent this week due to personal reasons – joining up with the rest of the fold.

A nine-hole practice round on Monday and a full 18 holes on Tuesday is planned, potentially offering an early indication of what the pairings might be come the week itself.

"There will be lots of different groups, different pairings playing together. Again, these things are never always set in stone," he said.

"We always have a plan in place and another plan if things go in a different direction.

"So we'll try and have a lot of options for the week. But obviously myself, Edoardo, the other vice captains, we've already had many conversations about that and started to figure it all out."

Donald has stressed that while the European team may be predominantly the same as two years ago in Italy, he sees opportunity to mix up pairings, such has been the development in several of the players’ careers.

“It's two years since Rome, and I’m so excited about the continuity and having a team that is very similar to Rome,” he said. “I think that's a massive benefit for us. But players change.

“Just, again, I've said this before: look at someone like Bob [MacIntyre]. He's become a much better player in the last two years. I didn't see a similar option for foursomes but potential there is this time around because of the way he plays the game now.

“Again, you have to always consider sort of those things that not everyone is playing the same. People shift whether you are a good driver or approach player or a putter. Those things move around in your career, and so you adapt to that.”

There is no doubting though the biggest change from Rome is the challenge that the partisan New York crowds will pose, something that Donald and his backroom staff continue to put a plan together for.

"This is a different challenge," he said in response to a question around what he has altered in his preparation compared to the 2023 Ryder Cup.

"Some of our advantages from Rome are certainly not advantages anymore.

"A lot of my thinking revolves around crowd management and how we react as a team.

"But also, I try to approach this in a little bit of a different way in terms of communication amongst the players.

"You know, instead of just wait until the team is formed, and then sort of get my messaging across, that process started 15 months ago.

"So again, those are probably the things that I felt like could be improved from Rome and hopefully they will see some good results."