Luke Donald revealed the five vice-captains for the Ryder, completing his 2023 European team. Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Nicolai Hojgaard, and Ludvig Aberg were declared by Donald as his choices for captain.
The six selections join the group of players who have previously qualified, including Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Robert MacIntyre, and Matt Fitzpatrick, who did so by earning their berths on the European Points List and World Points List.
Donald's choice to add the Swedish star seemed undoubtedable after Aberg's first DP World Tour victory less than 24 hours earlier. Although Aberg had placed in the top 25 in five of his first eight professional appearances, it was believed that his good run came too late for him to make Donald's team. But on Sunday, when the kid won the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, everything changed.
Donald's 12-man team ushers in a new era of European Ryder Cup golf, as players like Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, and Ian Poulter will not be participating in the 2023 competition. Poulter and co. have been fixtures for the previous 20 years, but after moving to LIV Golf, they are no longer associated with the Ryder Cup.
Poulter, Garcia, and Westwood were embroiled in a protracted battle with the DP World Tour after joining the LIV setup last summer. Eventually, approval was given for the Wentworth-based circuit to penalise anyone who participated in the Saudi-backed series.
Europe's Ryder Cup 2023 squad:
Captain: Luke Donald
Vice-captains:José María Olazábal, Nicolas Colsaerts, Thomas Bjørn, Edoardo Molinari, Francesco Molinari.
Players: Nicolai Hojgaard, Ludvig Aberg, Sepp Straka, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Shane Lowry.
