Luke Donald hoping Europeans continue to elevate their games in Ryder Cup quest

More of the same, please, is the message from Luke Donald. And such is the momentum in Europe’s golfing ranks, it would be no surprise if the Ryder Cup positivity continues at this week’s US PGA Championship.

On Sunday, in the week before the year’s second Major Championship, Sepp Straka won his second PGA TOUR title of the season at the Truist Championship.

By doing so at the Signature Event, the Austrian joined Rory McIlroy as the only multiple winners to date across the Atlantic this year.

What was further highlighted is the depth in the European ranks. Of the top ten finishers at The Philadelphia Cricket Club in Pennsylvania, five were European.

Shane Lowry – a Ryder Cup foursomes partner to Straka at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in 2023 – was in a tie for second, with Tommy Fleetwood tied fourth, and Stephan Jaeger and McIlroy in a share of seventh place.

PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA - MARCH 23: Viktor Hovland of Norway poses with the trophy after putting in to win on the 18th green during the final round of the Valspar Championship 2025 at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 23, 2025 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images)

Unlike at The American Express Championship in January, when it didn't offer Ryder Cup points as it was the same week as the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, this win for Straka was a big boost to his hopes of being back on the team, two years after his winning debut in Italy.

Not only that, the four-time PGA TOUR winner is now at a career-high ninth on the Official World Golf Ranking, one spot higher than Lowry.

Alongside Straka and McIlroy, Scandinavian Ryder Cup duo Ludvig Åberg and Viktor Hovland have also won silverware stateside this year, as has would-be rookie Thomas Detry of Belgium.

Who could forget, either, that at the last Major - the first of the year - McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam by winning the Masters Tournament.

On the DP World Tour, there are stories of emerging young European talent impressing too, would-be first-timer Laurie Canter staking a claim, while Tyrrell Hatton – already a three-time Ryder Cup player – has done his chances a favour, having won in Dubai at the start of the year.

So, as the world's best gather at Quail Hollow Club - a venue where McIlroy has won four times before - Donald is understandbly in good spirits about Europe's qualification process as he makes his 17th start at the US PGA Championship.

"It's great. It's always nice when potential guys on your team are up there each and every week playing against the strongest fields in golf and doing extremely well," he said on the eve of the start of the 107th edition of the PGA of America's premier event.

"When you have two or three guys up there, like at the Masters we had obviously Rory, Justin (Rose), Ludvig, last week Shane and Sepp, there's always going to be one loser, as well, which is the tough part because I'm texting the guys hard luck.

"But inside I'm thinking, this is great, because I've got a few potential guys all playing really well.

"It's a great problem to have. I love the momentum that we have so far.

"The players always seem to elevate their games in Ryder Cup years, and it's good to see."

Of the world's top 30, 11 are Europeans. Healthy representation. Of those, nine have Ryder Cup experience, with Aaron Rai joining Detry in targeting a Ryder Cup bow at Bethpage in September.

With two more Majors still to play after this one, two more Signature Events stateside and a Rolex Series event in Scotland on the DP World Tour, there is a lot to still be played for.

LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 16: Ludvig Åberg of Sweden reacts after making birdie on the 18th green during the final round of The Genesis Invitational 2025 at Torrey Pines Golf Course on February 16, 2025 in La Jolla, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

A win this week could move a player from outside the top 100 on the Qualification Rankings into an automatic position.

And with 99 of the top 100 in the world teeing it up in Charlotte, North Carolina, there are so many stories of Europeans who will be hoping to do their chances a big benefit.

What is not in doubt is Donald and his backroom team, including the data-driven focus of Vice Captain Edoardo Molinari, will ensure Europe will be on top of those who press forward their claims over the coming days, weeks and months.

"I want them to go out and feel like they go and earn it," he added. "Let's go in and play well."

While Donald will be hoping to perfom at his best this week on the course, one which he describes as "a brute", he will inevitably an eye off it on those who will be aiming to help Europe to a first away win for either side since the Miracle of Medinah in 2012.

Through the new-look qualification system, the top six automatic spots will be finalised at the completion of the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo in August, with the other six players announced later as Captain's Picks for Europe's trophy defence in New York.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 14: Luke Donald of England talks with reporters during a press conference prior to the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 14, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Here, we hear the thoughts of some of the leading European hopefuls who are looking ahead to another opportunity to help their bid for automatic qualification.

Sepp Straka

(On how his latest win has helped his cause to secure an automatic spot)

"Definitely, I was a little bit behind in the points. So, the goal all year has been to make that team.

"Yeah, it's nice to kind of get that big chunk of points.

"But, hopefully I can keep playing well and be in one of the top six there by the end of the year."

(On his memories of the 2023 Ryder Cup)

"I got to play with Shane on Sunday last week, and he's become a really good friend of mine. What a great week, great group of guys. Just still, kind of, the group chat still going from the last one. Hoping to be in the group chat for the next one.

"The next one is going to be very different, I think.

"The environment in the room was incredible. Obviously we were the home team, so that's expected.

"But it's going to be quite the opposite in New York. I think the fans are going to be coming out in full support for the US, and I think it's going to be fun but in a very different way. I think they're going to make it very challenging and it's going to be tough.

"Hopefully I can get my game in shape and keep it going through that time."

FLOURTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 11: Sepp Straka of Austria reacts after putting in to win on the 18th green during the final round of the Truist Championship 2025 at The Wissahickon at Philadelphia Cricket Club on May 11, 2025 in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Viktor Hovland

(On his levels of belief going into the week, having surprised himself on his way to victory at the Valspar Championship in March)

"What I'm happy about is the progress that I've made since right before the Valspar, and even since the Valspar.

"I think I'm definitely trending in the right direction. But there's still just some stuff left in there that just doesn't allow me to play to the level that I want to play with, play at.

"At the Valspar, I proved to myself that with even worse ball-striking, I can still be competitive, and I think the tournament here last year (when he finished third at Valhalla Golf Club) was also another proof of that.

"I do beat myself down with kind of where I'm at technically, and it's not fun when you're out there trying to predict a certain golf shot and the ball flight does the opposite. But even despite that, I don't doubt my abilities to get the ball in the hole."

(On continously working hard on his game, and whether there is one particular area he's focusing on this week)

"This week is a big driving week. The course is so long. Fairways are wet. You're going to have to drive it long and straight, and driving is usually the best part of my game. But recently, it's been tough for me.

"I try to go back to my old reliant fade off the tee, and when I do that because of just how the club is moving, it's just not allowing me to do that. And I'm hitting a lot of double-crosses, missing a lot to the left, which for me, I can kind of deal with an over-cut.

"But when the ball is drawing to the left, and sometimes when it's not doing that, it's starting right and going right, it's a tough place for me to be.

"I've just got to get to the bottom of that, and if I can get the ball consistently in the fairway off the tee, even though I don't feel amazing, my iron play has been pretty solid this year. So I can still get the ball in the hole."

Ludvig Åberg

(On the challenge this week)

"It's a really nice golf course. It requires a lot of good shots.

I've heard the term "big boy golf course" which describes this one very well, and some really long holes now. The fairways are still wet. You're not getting any roll off the tee and greens are firming up with the SubAir.

"It will be a good challenge, it will be long and the greens would be, I would imagine, getting a little firmer. It will be nice.

"I've had a couple of weeks where things are clicking a little bit more, which has been very nice, and it's been nice to spend had time here with my coach, Hans (Larssen). Last time I saw him was Augusta. I feel like we're moving which is always a positive."

(On the Ryder Cup and his development as a player)

"I think the experiences that I've had over the last almost two years has definitely helped me.

"The Ryder Cup in 2023 definitely helped me because I was able to hang out with those guys that I had really only seen on TV up until that point.

"It was cool to see that when I was playing well that my game was just as good as those guys, which gave me a lot of comfort and confidence going forward. I think until you've seen what the best players do, you don't really know how good is good. Obviously you see it on TV but to have conversations with them, that really helped me.

"Obviously I want to be on the team this year, as well. That's something that I heard when I did it the first time in Rome: if you've ever been on one team, you never want to miss it again, and that's very true, and that's how I feel about Bethpage this year."