Luke Donald has confirmed his Ryder Cup captain’s picks as Europe vies to defend its title against Keegan Bradley’s Team USA at Bethpage Black in New York later this month

Luke Donald has finalized Europe’s Ryder Cup team (Image: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Luke Donald has confirmed his six captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup, with LIV Golf star Jon Rahm selected for the 12-man team to take on Keegan Bradley and the Americans at Bethpage Black.

The event tees off on Sep. 26, and Donald has confirmed Rahm, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, and Matt Fitzpatrick as his captain’s picks.

They join automatic qualifiers Rory McIlroy, Bob MacIntyre, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Rasmus Hojgaard and Tyrrell Hatton, rounding off Donald’s 12-man roster as Europe vies to defend the title it won in Rome two years ago. It comes after Scottie Scheffler’s “𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ish” financial agreement with his caddie was exposed following his $3.4 million win.

Former world No. 1 Donald was so impressive as captain at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club that his players demanded he receive the unusual honor of captaining two successive Ryder Cups.

The Englishman has stepped up to the challenge, and he believes he has a team capable of pulling off a first away win in the Ryder Cup since the Miracle at Medinah in 2012.

The European team is almost exactly the same as the group that achieved glory in Rome, with 11 players returning. The only new name is rookie Hojgaard, who fills the spot that was occupied by his twin brother Nicolai in Italy.

Donald is thrilled with the makeup of his team for Bethpage ( Image: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Donald said: “I feel amazingly proud of these guys and how well they have played. Obviously a lot of continuity from Rome. It’s unusual to have so many people coming back but just shows how good these players are.

“Even though we have a lot of continuity, this is a different animal, to play away in America. We understand how difficult that is.

“I’ve looked at it from very different angles to try and get us prepared for this amazing challenge ahead.”

The European team is more settled and experienced than Bradley’s American roster, but Donald is under no illusions about the challenge that awaits in Long Island.

“It’s a different challenge. Obviously having the chance to do it again doesn’t mean we’re going to do the same things we did in Rome,” he said. “That’s about implementing new techniques. I’ve really tried to look hard at exactly what this will require.

“I’m very aware that we have lost three of the last four away Ryder Cups by significant margins, and it’s a tough challenge. It’s a tough environment. But I’ve tried everything I can to give our team the best opportunity.”