Luke Donald has appointed Francesco Molinari as a vice-captain for Europe’s 2027 Ryder Cup team at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland, giving the 43-year-old Open champion the role for a third consecutive staging of the contest.
Molinari filled that role for Donald at Marco Simone in Rome in 2023 and at Bethpage Black in New York in 2025, both European victories. He now joins his brother Edoardo, who was confirmed in April as Donald’s first vice-captain for 2027, on the backroom staff for the match scheduled for 13–19 September 2027.
Molinari on returning
Francesco Molinari said the decision to accept was straightforward.
“I was very pleased when Luke asked me. I’ve had two great experiences in Rome and New York, two very different ones, but both of them memorable and some of the best weeks of my life,” he said. “So, it was an easy, straightforward decision. Anytime you get asked to be involved, there’s only one possible answer and I can’t wait to be there again.”
Donald said Molinari’s continuity in the role has been valuable. “I’m really excited to have Francesco back on board. He has been an integral part of the backroom team as a vice captain the last two times I’ve been captain,” he said.
A proven Ryder Cup pedigree
Molinari has a strong Ryder Cup record. As a player, he featured in three victorious European Ryder Cup teams, including the 2012 comeback at Medinah, where he secured the half-point against Tiger Woods in the final singles match to seal Europe’s outright win. At Le Golf National in Paris in 2018, the year he won the Open at Carnoustie, he became the first European player to go 5-0 in a single Ryder Cup.
Europe’s leadership taking shape
Donald was named 2027 European Ryder Cup captain on 4 March 2026. With Edoardo confirmed in April and Francesco now in place, Donald has begun assembling his backroom team more than a year before the match begins.
The Molinari brothers were both part of Europe’s wins in Rome and New York. At Adare Manor, they will help Donald pursue a third straight Ryder Cup victory for Europe.
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Simon Bale
Simon Bale is the publisher of Golf Today. A low single-figure handicap golfer, he was previously a major shareholder and course reviewer for Top100GolfCourses.com for over a decade, starting in 2010. Through this role, he developed extensive knowledge of golf course design and architecture while playing more than 300 courses worldwide.