Ryder Cup 2025: Sir Clive Woodward backs Crew Europe for historic away win and praises Luke Donald’s ‘incredible’ management

Former Rugby World Cup-winning head coach Sir Clive Woodward has backed Crew Europe to assert a well-known Ryder Cup away victory and praised Luke Donald’s ‘incredible’ management as captain.

Crew Europe head to Bethpage Black this month, stay from September 26-28 on Sky Sports activities, seeking to retain the trophy on American soil and declare the primary away victory within the Ryder Cup since their ‘Miracle at Medinah’ success in 2012.

Donald returns as captain after main Europe to a 16.5-11.5 victory in Rome two years in the past, with the Englishman retaining 11 of his 12-man aspect and 4 of his 5 vice-captains from their 2023 success.

Europe have solely received 4 away Ryder Cups of their historical past however Woodward, who guided England to World Cup glory on away soil in 2023, believes Donald’s aspect are in a robust place to defeat Crew USA.

When requested whether or not Europe will win in New York, Woodward informed the Sky Sports activities Golf podcast: “Positively, sure. Once I noticed the workforce and after I see how effectively Fleetwood, McIlroy and Rose are enjoying – they’ve all been successful the previous couple of weeks.

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“I feel we have a extremely sturdy aspect and I feel we have good characters as effectively. I can see all of them wanting ahead to going there and having a little bit of a second with the gang.

“We’ve got some tough characters there – do you pair two strong ones up together or do you put your strong characters with the not quite so strong characters? If anything was to happen during a round of golf, which happened last time with the caddie or with the crowd saying, you need the tough guy there.

“I feel that the gang additionally respect our workforce. They know we have some robust characters on the market, winners, so if you happen to’re going through as much as McIlroy or Rahm or these guys then they are not going to again off it. That is going to be an incredible occasion.”

Donald is the primary back-to-back Ryder Cup captain since Bernard Gallacher within the Nineties, with Woodward impressed by the previous world No 1’s work and believing it places them in a “really good position” to assert a profitable title defence.

“He’s like us all – he’s an obsessive and his detail is absolutely huge,” Woodward added. “For him to show across the Ryder Cup workforce a pair years in the past in Italy was simply wonderful.

“The biggest thing from a coach’s point of view is do the players trust him. You don’t get trust or respect by being the boss, you get it by the quality of your actions. What he’s done since he’s been the Ryder Cup captain has been amazing.

“His spouse’s bought a giant half to play in that as effectively – she’s achieved an excellent job, which is absolutely necessary behind the scenes. Between the 2 captains, we’re a bit forward there and he is forward of Keegan Bradley. we’re in a extremely good place.

“It was just fascinating when they won two years ago, they were still celebrating and they were shouting two more years, two more years. If you’re the coach, if you’re Luke, you’ll never admit it, but that would be a massive buzz.

“You understand the workforce’s proper behind you. As a result of you have to make massive calls, you have to make calls that aren’t going to be standard with all of the workforce. That is when you are going to know you have bought a very good workforce. Everybody takes it on board – it is a workforce sport.”

Donald mentioned forward of the BMW PGA Championship that there can be probably totally different teams enjoying collectively in comparison with two years in the past, regardless of the same line-up, with Woodward warning in opposition to Crew Europe absolutely counting on information to pick his pairings.

“Data is really important but it’s got to reinforce your gut feeling,” Woodward insisted. “I still absolutely believe as the head coach, your brain, you’ve got to use your common sense or your knowledge.

“If the info backs that up, then massive, massive tick. However, if you happen to and the info cross and say, ‘really, that does not make sense to me’, you have nonetheless bought to go together with your personal intestine feeling. That is actually necessary.

“I’d always go with my decision at the end, but I listened to other people and all the data. At the end of the day, if you win, you tend to be right. And if you lose, you leave yourself pretty well known for this.”

Take heed to the complete Sir Clive Woodward interview on the most recent version of the Sky Sports activities Golf podcast, hosted each week by Jamie Weir, the place he additionally mentioned his position with the “Stryve Golf” app he has been working with to assist golfers with their sport.

This week’s episode additionally incorporates an interview with Nicolas Colsaerts, who featured within the 2012 Ryder Cup and served as a vice-captain in 2023. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Spreaker, whereas vodcasts could be discovered on the Sky Sports activities Golf YouTube channel.

When is the Ryder Cup stay on Sky Sports activities?

There might be prolonged stay protection from daily of Ryder Cup week, beginning on Monday September 22, the place Crew Europe look to regain the trophy with a historic away win in america.

Round the clock protection of the opening day’s play will start with stay build-up from 9am on Friday September 26, forward of full protection from noon. Not bought Sky? Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.