Luke Donald has named José María Olazábal as his third vice-captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup, which will be held at Bethpage Black, New York, from 26th to 28th September 2025.
Olazábal returns to the role after also being one of Donald’s five Vice-Captains in 2023, when Europe defeated the United States 16½ – 11½ at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, in Italy.
The Spanish golfer, aged 59, was the last captain to lead Europe to victory on American soil, staging the most famous comeback by the European team in Ryder Cup history, at Medinah 2012. The so-called ‘Miracle of Medinah’.
As a player, Olazábal represented Europe in seven editions of the Ryder between 1987 and 2006, forming with Seve Ballesteros the most iconic duo in the history of this biennial tournament. This will be the fifth time Olazábal serves as vice-captain, having previously held the position in 2008, 2010, 2014 and more recently in Rome 2023. In Donald’s technical team, he will once again join Danish Thomas Bjørn and Italian Edoardo Molinari.
José María Olazábal stated: “It’s wonderful news. When Luke contacted me to propose returning as vice-captain, I must admit I thought about it a bit, because playing in New York won’t be easy. But the Ryder Cup means a lot to me. I have wonderful memories of this competition, so I said yes.
I believe Luke did an excellent job in Rome and I’m sure he will rise to the occasion again. He took care of absolutely every detail: players, caddies, families. It was fantastic to see him so involved, so close to the players. It was a pride to be part of that team.
Winning away in the United States is really challenging. In New York, we know the crowd will be very loud and the course will be set up to favour the home team. We will have to know how to manage all that.”
Olazábal: “I don’t think there’s a greater challenge for a golfer than facing a Ryder Cup as a visitor. You have to be mentally prepared”
For his part, Luke Donald commented: “I am delighted to welcome José María back to the role of vice-captain. He is synonymous with European golf and the Ryder Cup, with all that it represents. Having him back on my team is very positive for us.
Donald: “Olazábal has blue and gold in his blood. His passion for the Ryder Cup is unmatched. He is an inspiration to many players, as was already demonstrated in Rome”
Moreover, it is key to have the last captain who achieved a victory on rival soil. I was in that team as a player and witnessed his tireless attitude and how he was inspired by Seve that week. There will be tough moments in New York and we will need that experience, that passion and that mentality”.
Olazábal played a total of 31 matches in the Ryder Cup as a player, with 18 victories and a total of 20½ points contributed to the European team. His partnership with the legendary Seve Ballesteros is the most successful in the tournament’s history, with 12 points in 15 matches together. In his professional career, Olazábal has achieved 33 international titles, including 23 victories on the European Tour between 1986 and 2005. He is also a two-time Masters champion (1994 and 1999) and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2009.
