Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald discusses Jon Rahm's eligibility, 'loud' Bethpage Black crowd

The Ryder Cup was expected to beryllium played astatine Bethpage Black past September, but the pandemic postponed it a year.

But now, play fans are yet successful countdown mode until Team USA and Team Europe conflict connected Long Island.

While golfers mightiness not turn up needfully wanting to triumph Ryder Cups (it's the majors that truly marque up a legacy), the emotions travel retired each different September.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Luke Donald, Captain of Team Europe, lifts the Ryder Cup trophy pursuing triumph with 16 and a fractional to 11 and a fractional triumph during the 2023 Ryder Cup astatine Marco Simone Golf Club connected October 1, 2023, successful Rome, Italy. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

But for Luke Donald, Team Europe's captain, the Ryder Cup has ever meant something.

"To beryllium honest, erstwhile I was increasing up, 1 of my archetypal memories is watching the Ryder Cup successful 1987, which was the archetypal clip Team Europe won connected U.S. soil, truthful it did person a large interaction connected maine arsenic a kid," Donald told Fox News Digital successful a caller interview.

"Some of my astir peculiar memories connected play courses are successful Ryder Cups, due to the fact that you get to stock it with the guys, it’s specified a amusive week, the ambiance it creates. People who don’t travel play similar to tune into the Ryder Cup for what it represents. It’s a fierce rivalry, it’s got a large communicative and past down it, and each the golfers are motivated and pumped to play due to the fact that of it. It’s been a immense portion of my beingness and a monolithic absorption for me, but I truly bask the acquisition of doing that and preparing and trying to springiness the squad the champion accidental for success."

The roadworthy squad person not won a Ryder Cup since Team Europe's Miracle astatine Medinah successful 2012, erstwhile they overcame a 10-4 shortage connected Sunday Singles (USA has not won connected European ungraded since 1993). In 5 Ryder Cups since then, the location squad has won the cup, each successful alternatively convincing fashion.

The closest matches successful that span person been the five-point wins by Europe successful 2014 astatine Gleneagles successful Scotland and the 2023 triumph successful Rome.

Donald knows that "New York's going to beryllium large and ready," but it's his occupation to combat that.

The Ryder Cup trrophy Bethpage State Park Black Course connected June 6, 2016, successful Farmingdale, New York.  (Gary Kellner/PGA of America)

RYDER CUP CAPTAIN, LPGA STAR TEAM UP TO DELIVER NATIONWIDE TOURNAMENT; GRAND PRIZE IS A 29-NIGHT CRUISE

"The biggest vantage is the enactment you get from the location crowd. We spot it successful each of sports. That was a large vantage successful Rome, and it’ll beryllium a disadvantage successful New York. And I person to effort to travel up with ways to dissipate that," helium said. 

The champion mode to bash that, of course, is by gathering the champion squad possible. And though LIV Golf has forced its wrinkles into the event, the program is to person the 2023 Team Europe leader and two-time large champion Jon Rahm astatine Bethpage aboriginal this year.

"Jon is simply a subordinate of the European Tour, he’s eligible to beryllium picked, and inactive 1 of our champion players. Unless his signifier drastically takes off, I expect him to beryllium determination for us," helium said.

Brooks Koepka was a captain's prime successful 2023, acknowledgment to his triumph astatine the PGA Championship and second-place decorativeness astatine the Masters. He narrowly qualified based connected points alone, which is beauteous impressive, considering LIV players trying for Team USA tin lone gain points successful majors. 

Koepka, though, was the lone LIV golfer successful that year's tournament. In fact, Donald became Europe's skipper aft Henrik Stenson was removed from his relation by the European Tour pursuing his defection to LIV.

Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm of Team Europe observe pursuing triumph with 16 and a fractional to 11 and a fractional triumph pursuing the Sunday singles matches of the 2023 Ryder Cup astatine Marco Simone Golf Club connected October 01, 2023 successful Rome, Italy.  (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

LIV players are presently banned from the Presidents Cup, which is owned and operated by the PGA Tour. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.