Donald finalizes Europe Ryder Cup squad with six captain's picks

European captain Luke Donald completed his 12-man Ryder Cup team on Monday, choosing Jon Rahm, Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, Matt Fitzpatrick and Sepp Straka as his six captain's picks to join six automatic qualifiers for the Sept. 26-28 match at Bethpage Black in New York. The selections leave Europe with 11 of the 12 players who triumphed in Rome in 2023, with Rasmus Hojgaard the only newcomer replacing his twin Nicolai.

Donald said he had opted largely for continuity and experience while adapting the team for an away defence. "We are a settled and united team with a strong culture," he said, adding that preparing for Bethpage required different thinking and increased communication to ready players for the notoriously boisterous New York crowds. He also highlighted form in his explanations, noting several picks had produced recent strong results.

Rahm, who will make his fourth Ryder Cup appearance, appeared emotional when his selection was announced and said Donald had telephoned him days earlier. "I did not think I would be as emotional as I feel now," Rahm said. He told reporters the captain had given the squad a range of tools to cope with a hostile atmosphere...