Fresh off back-to-back Ryder Cup triumphs alongside Team Europe, Edoardo Molinari is set to reprise his role as Luke Donald’s first vice captain for the 2027 installment of golf’s iconic transatlantic showdown, Europe’s captain confirmed this week. The 2027 biennial clash between Europe and the United States will tee off at Ireland’s renowned Adare Manor in September, and Donald has turned to a proven trusted advisor to anchor his backroom team once again.
Molinari first stepped into the vice captain role for the 2023 Ryder Cup hosted at Rome’s Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, where he helped guide Team Europe to a commanding 16½-11½ victory over the Americans. He returned to the support staff for the 2024 contest at New York’s Bethpage Black, where Europe secured another narrow 15-13 win to keep their recent winning streak intact. No stranger to the prestige of the Ryder Cup, Molinari also competed as a player alongside his brother Francesco in Europe’s 2010 victory in Wales; Francesco himself has also served as a vice captain under Donald in both the 2023 and 2024 tournaments.
In a statement released Thursday, Molinari expressed his enthusiasm for returning to the role, saying, “It was a very easy decision when Luke called me and asked me if I was willing to help him again. I was obviously very happy. Any time you can get involved in the Ryder Cup, in any role, it’s a great thing and I cannot wait for Adare Manor to come soon enough.”
As vice captain, Molinari will bring his specialized expertise in statistical analysis to the team, a skill Donald highlighted as irreplaceable to the squad’s success. In remarks confirming the appointment at Virginia Water, England, Donald emphasized just how critical Molinari’s contributions have been to the team’s two recent wins, calling him a “rock of support” that has reshaped the team’s operational approach.
“Edoardo has been a rock of support to me. He has made such a difference to our team. He is invaluable from a statistical analysis perspective, in terms of helping me with the qualification system, navigating the ever-changing world of golf,” Donald said. “He is a very steady head. I always know where I stand with him and he gives me great advice … He is a major factor in our backroom team.”
Donald added that Molinari’s attention to detail and focus on marginal gains gives Team Europe a critical advantage, particularly as hosts, where teams have more control over course preparations. “He works closely with a number of players. He is a numbers guy and he is always looking at how to gain those edges, through statistics, through looking at the golf course and how you can set it up to give yourself just a little bit of an edge, which you have a little bit more control over as a home team,” Donald explained.
Notably, Team Europe has not lost a Ryder Cup on home soil since 1993, a 34-year undefeated streak they will look to extend when they compete at Adare Manor. Donald wrapped up his remarks by celebrating Molinari’s commitment to the event’s core values, saying, “I’m excited to work with him again. He is so committed, so dedicated and he loves what the Ryder Cup represents. It’s an honor to having him by my side once again.”