Luke Donald has brought most of Europe’s 2025 Ryder Cup winners to Adare Manor, the venue for next year’s contest against the United States, along with four players who could join them as rookies. The gathering gives the captain a chance to see who is ready for the big stage.
Donald arranged for 16 players to meet at Adare Manor, about 60 miles from where last week’s Irish Open was held at the Trump International Golf Links at Doonbeg. The trip follows that tournament, which Shane Lowry won in dominant fashion.
The veterans who showed up
Most of the victorious 2025 squad turned out for the meeting. Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, Bob MacIntyre, Justin Rose and Sepp Straka were all present, along with Lowry and the elder Fitzpatrick.
Rory McIlroy did not make the trip to Adare Manor. Neither did 2026 PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai or Rasmus Hojgaard.
Alex Noren and Nicolai Hojgaard were the only other members of the party who did not appear in Europe’s stunning away victory at Bethpage Black last year.
The rookies who got the nod
Four players who have not yet played in a Ryder Cup received invites to the scouting trip. They are:
- Eugenio Chacarra, a two-time winner on the DP World Tour
- Angel Ayora, a 21-year-old Spanish talent who hits the ball a mile and recorded 10 top-10 finishes as a DP World Tour rookie
- Alex Fiztpatrick, the younger brother of 2022 US Open winner and four-time Ryder Cup player Matt Fitzpatrick
- Kristoffer Reitan, a 28-year-old Norwegian who has won on the PGA Tour this season
The quartet give Donald a look at the next generation of European golf. Ayora stands out for his age and his early record on tour.
What Donald said about the trip
Donald spoke about the value of face-to-face contact ahead of the meet-up. He played alongside Alex Fitzpatrick and young Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin for the first two rounds of the Irish Open last week to watch them in action close up.
“I haven’t played a lot this year,” Donald said. “So much more ideal having those sort of face-to-face conversations, some have dinners, just catch up. I think that communication, that chat, just is beneficial in the long run. It creates some good relationships and good trust.”
The pairings for Wentworth
Donald will likely pick another couple of Ryder Cup hopefuls to be grouped with at this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. The tee times are set to be released later on Tuesday.
One of the privileges is that he gets to choose his pairings most weeks when he plays over here, according to Donald.
He spoke warmly about Alex Fitzpatrick, whose game has improved since winning with his brother at Zurich. “He’s really kicked on amazingly well, showing that his game holds up against some of the very best on the US tour,” Donald said.
Donald also mentioned Tom McKibbin, whom he has played with before. “Certainly I think he played quite well a couple weeks ago at the British Masters,” Donald said. “Statistically, I think he’s starting to show some improvement. So I’m looking forward to seeing his game as well.”
How the rookies stand
Chacarra has two wins on the DP World Tour. Ayora has 10 top-10 finishes as a rookie, despite his youth.
Fitzpatrick has benefited from being part of a golfing family. His older brother Matt won the 2022 US Open and has played in four Ryder Cups, which means Alex comes with built-in experience of what the competition demands.
Reitan has won on the PGA Tour this season.
| Player | Age |
|---|---|
| Eugenio Chacarra | Not stated |
| Angel Ayora | 21 |
| Alex Fiztpatrick | Not stated |
| Kristoffer Reitan | 28 |
What happens next
The trip to Adare Manor was a chance to size up the field. The next step is the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, where Donald will pick another couple of hopefuls to group with.
The captain has already made his feelings clear about the importance of communication and trust.
The 2027 Ryder Cup will be a test of whether the rookies can hold their own against the best players in the world. The trip to Adare Manor was a first step in that direction.
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