Former captain Olazabal joins Molinari and Bjorn to support Luke Donald in Bethpage Black battle
Jose Maria Olazabal, the Spanish golfing icon synonymous with Ryder Cup drama and triumph, has been reappointed as vice-captain of Team Europe for the 2025 contest in New York. The 59-year-old will once again support captain Luke Donald as Europe looks to retain the trophy at Bethpage Black after last year’s emphatic 16½–11½ win in Rome.
Olazabal, who famously led Europe to their last Ryder Cup victory on American soil in 2012—the “Miracle at Medinah”—joins an experienced backroom team alongside Italian Edoardo Molinari and Danish veteran Thomas Bjorn.
Speaking after the announcement, Olazabal admitted he gave the decision some serious thought. “When Luke approached me and asked about the possibility of being a vice-captain again, I have to be honest—I thought about it for a while,” he said. “Being in New York, it’s not going to be easy. But the Ryder Cup is very close to my heart. I have wonderful memories about this event, so I said yes.”
Olazabal is a Ryder Cup stalwart, having played in seven editions of the event between 1987 and 2006, winning three times and helping Europe retain the trophy after a tie in 1989. His partnership with the late Seve Ballesteros remains one of the most iconic in Ryder Cup history.
Luke Donald, 47, expressed his delight at bringing Olazabal back into the fold. “Jose is synonymous with European golf and the Ryder Cup and everything it represents,” said Donald. “To have him back as part of my backroom team is incredibly positive for us. He bleeds blue and gold like nobody else. His passion for the Ryder Cup is second to none.”
Donald credited Olazabal’s influence as crucial in last year’s success in Rome. “He’s an inspiration to so many players,” Donald said. “He took time to focus on the small details—how to motivate players, engage with their families, even crafting messages using images from past champions. It really lifted the atmosphere.”
The 2025 Ryder Cup is set to be one of the most fiercely contested in recent memory. Not only does it return to the cauldron of Bethpage Black—an iconic and notoriously demanding Long Island course—it also comes after Europe ended the Americans’ run in 2023 with a performance hailed as a masterclass in planning and unity.
With the USA aiming to bounce back on home turf, Olazabal’s presence adds a vital edge of experience and emotional resonance to Europe’s charge. His leadership, particularly in high-pressure situations, is widely respected among the players and fellow captains alike.
Fans will remember the scenes from Medinah in 2012—Olazabal, overcome with emotion, dedicated Europe’s comeback to Ballesteros, whose silhouette adorned their kit that year. It remains one of the most unforgettable chapters in the tournament’s long and storied history.
His reappointment signals continuity and a deep-rooted commitment to the team ethos Donald has cultivated. With Molinari’s data-driven approach and Bjorn’s wealth of experience, the European team’s leadership structure is as robust and emotionally charged as it has ever been.
As preparations begin in earnest for the September showdown, Olazabal’s return is a clear signal that Europe means business. He may not swing a club, but few can inspire a team like Jose Maria Olazabal.
