Luke Donald has named Francesco Molinari as his fourth vice-captain for the Ryder Cup 2025, which will be held at Bethpage Black, New York (United States), from 26th to 28th September 2025. The Italian returns to this role after having been a vice-captain in the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, when the European team defeated the American team 16 ½ to 11 ½ at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.
Francesco joins his brother Edoardo, Thomas Bjørn, and José María Olazábal in Donald’s backroom team with the aim of helping the European team retain the Ryder Cup in New York. Molinari was part of the last European team to achieve that feat, securing the half point in the final singles match against Tiger Woods at Medinah in 2012, which ensured Olazábal’s team victory 14½-13½ in the Ryder Cup. Two years earlier, he had debuted alongside his brother Edoardo at The Celtic Manor Resort.
In 2018, he became the first European player to win all five matches he played in a Ryder Cup, where Bjørn’s team triumphed 17½-10½ at Le Golf National in Paris. Earlier that year, he won the Open Championship at Carnoustie, becoming Italy’s first major champion.
Upon learning of his appointment, Molinari said: “I am very happy to be part of the team again. I really enjoyed being part of Luke’s backroom team in Rome and trying to help the players. Luke is a very smart and sharp person. He has been very successful and is easy to work with. It has been fantastic to see firsthand how much he is putting into his role as captain. He did the same two years ago and is doing it now. He leads by example, so his passion rubs off on the players.”
“It’s going to be a great challenge at Bethpage. Just look at the statistics to see how difficult it is to win the Ryder Cup away from home. It hasn’t happened very often lately, so it’s a big challenge, but also a great opportunity to try to do something that, if achieved, will be remembered for a very, very long time. Everyone will give their best and I am very happy to be able to contribute my bit to the team. I am looking forward to being there. I am looking forward to trying to pass on my Medinah experience to the players. There will be a few of us who were there in 2012. Some are still playing and others, like Luke and me, are now behind the scenes. Medinah still holds a special place in my memory and in my heart, and I would be very happy and proud to see this generation of players achieve something like that,” he added.
Regarding his choice, European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald detailed: “I am very excited to announce that Francesco will join me again as one of my vice-captains in New York. Obviously, he was a key part of the team in Rome and having him and his experience again means a lot to me personally.”
“He knows how to win the Ryder Cup, having been part of three winning teams, and I think that’s very important for us. Obviously, we have a tough task ahead of us trying to win in New York. He has incredible experience: as a rookie in 2010 with his brother Edoardo, playing in the number 12 singles against Tiger in 2012, when he secured the half point that gave us the victory, and in 2018, when he became the only European player to win 5-0 in a Ryder Cup. I think he brings a lot of calm. He is someone who listens a lot and has good ideas. He speaks when he feels it is necessary,” he added.
“I love his attitude. He doesn’t seem to get nervous. He doesn’t seem to get too excited or discouraged. I think that’s going to be important in a place like New York, an away Ryder Cup. So I love what he brings and I’m very excited to have him back as part of the team,” he concluded.
Molinari was playing captain for Continental Europe against Great Britain and Ireland in the Team Cup in January, as well as in the 2023 edition of the event, known as the Hero Cup. He has also played in three editions of the Seve Trophy and, in total, has won six times on the DP World Tour, including twice in his home country, winning the Italian Open in 2006 and 2016.
He won the Race to Dubai on the DP World Tour in 2018 and has won twice individually on American soil on the PGA Tour, winning the Quicken Loans National in 2018 and the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2019.
