Luke Donald will captain Europe's Ryder Cup side for a third consecutive time next year.
The Englishman was at the helm for victories in Rome in 2023 and then again at Bethpage last year.
That was just a third away win for either side this century and it swiftly sparked talk that Donald could be handed a third stint as captain.
The 48-year-old wanted some time to think over that decision and he held talks with senior officials in Dubai January.
Confirmation has now come that Donald will get the chance to make history by becoming the first captain to oversee three victories in a row.
He will lead the team at Adare Manor in September next year, when they look to prevent a first American win on European soil since 1993.
Donald said: “The last two Ryder Cups have meant a lot to me and my family. I didn’t imagine this third time would come. Celebrating on that Sunday night in New York after a pressure packed week in a tough environment, I thought maybe my job was done. But maybe there is a little more story to tell.
“This Ryder Cup Captaincy journey has given me so much focus, so much purpose and it is something I don’t take for granted. It’s a real privilege and I am certainly looking forward to another home Ryder Cup.
“History is obviously important to me. As a team, as Ryder Cup Europe, we all play for history. We talk about it a lot, about the guys who paved the way for us and the responsibility we have to inspire next generations. But I don’t think I have ever thought about history through a personal lens. I just try to enjoy the journey and the day-to-day work to create an environment that gives the players the opportunity for success. That is what I focus on.”
Donald is hugely popular among the European players and his attention to detail has been key to back-to-back Ryder Cup wins.
In the build-up to last year's event at Bethpage, where the crowd made it perhaps the most hostile Ryder Cup in history, Donald had his players prepare for the abuse by using VR headsets.
Months before the Ryder Cup, he even hired an American comedian to hurl insults at his players during a round to get used to that environment.
Two was special. Three would be historic... pic.twitter.com/bdlMRUCji6
— Ryder Cup Europe (@RyderCupEurope) March 4, 2026
Donald will again have Tyrrell Hatton available for selection, after the Englishman was granted permission to play in LIV Golf events.
He will retain his membership status on the DP World Tour and face no disciplinary action, having accepted certain conditions.
Those include paying outstanding fines, withdrawing appeals and playing in a certain number of DP World Tour events.
However, Jon Rahm has opted against doing so and has accused the tour of "extorting players", casting some doubt over his Ryder Cup future.
The Spaniard has refused to accept the terms put forward, but has suggested he could do so if the compulsory number of tournaments was reduced from six to four.
Donald was a player in the 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland, so knows what to expect from the atmosphere when the Ryder Cup returns to the country next September.
“The Irish golf fans are some of the best in the world,” he said. “They are so passionate about the game, so hospitable and so down to earth. They will bring such a great energy to the Ryder Cup. I am sure they will get behind our players and cheers us on. That’s what you want from a crowd - to pick you up in those low moments and keep you going when things are going well.
“That will be a big factor. It’s obviously one of the advantages of playing at home and there is no better place to do it than in Ireland.
“Adare Manor is such a special place, such a beautiful place. JP McManus and his team have done an amazing job creating a world class venue and hotel. Hosting a Ryder Cup will be very special to them and they are going to make sure it is going to be one of the greatest Ryder Cups in the history of our beautiful trophy.”
It remains to be seen who will be leading the American team in Ireland.
Tiger Woods is the favourite to be named captain and he is a long-time friend of JP McManus, the owner of Adare Manor.
Woods has been offered the American captaincy but is yet to make a final decision on whether to accept.
“They have asked me for my input on it and I haven’t made my decision yet,” Woods said.
“I’m trying to figure out what we’re trying to do with our [PGA] tour. That’s been driving me hours upon hours every day and trying to figure out if I can actually do... our Team USA and our players and everyone that’s going to be involved in the Ryder Cup, if I can do it justice with my time.
“Serving on two boards and what I’m doing for the PGA Tour, I’m trying to figure out if I can actually do this and serve the people that are involved and serve them at an honourable level.”
