Ryder Cup 2023: Ludvig Aberg, Sepp Straka, Nicolai Hojgaard headline Team Europe captain Luke Donald’s picks

With the Ryder Cup only a matter of weeks away, Team Europe captain Luke Donald has announced his six picks that complete the 12-man team looking to wrestle the trophy back from the United States at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome, Italy.

Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre secured their automatic spots on the team at the conclusion of last week’s Omega European Masters, but it was the winner of the event, Ludvig Aberg, who secured Donald’s sixth and final pick.

The 23-year-old has been the name on everyone’s lips since he joined the pro ranks back in June with many expecting the Swede to go all the way to the top.

As he recorded four top-25 finishes and a top-five finish in the handful of PGA Tour events he has played, folk soon started to wonder whether his form could influence Donald’s thinking.

“I played with him in Detroit [3M Open] and was blown away by his game,” explained Donald.

“He continued to progress, and you know, I challenged him, come over to Europe and play a couple weeks. He finished fifth (tied fourth) in Czech [Masters] and obviously you know what he did yesterday. It was like a walk in the park for him and for someone that is so inexperienced it was just so, so impressive.”

Donald’s challenge to Aberg certainly paid off and he will become the youngest player in Ryder Cup history.

Joining Aberg as rookies on the team will be Austria’s Sepp Straka and Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard.

It has been a breakthrough year for 30-year-old Straka who not only finished in a tie for second at The Open in July but lifted the John Deere Classic silverware on the PGA Tour in the same month.

“It was a definite goal to make this team, but it always seemed so distant, so far away,” he said.

“I just knew I had to play some good golf. I showed some good form this summer and I’m honoured and really happy to be here.”

The burly big hitter has a steely grit that will be an important part of the European machine if they want to get the job done in Rome.

Hojgaard also has seat on the plane. The 22-year-old Dane has had an impressive debut campaign on the PGA Tour, just missing out on victory at the Corales Puntacana Championship in March and recording a tie for 14th at his last event across the pond at the Wyndham Championship.

However, his pedigree in Europe is even more impressive and, on current display, is one of the form players heading to Marco Simone, a course on which he won back in 2021.

“He’s a young superstar,” said Donald of the Dane. “The world is his oyster as what he’s achieved so far is just the beginning for him. We wanted some in-form players and what he did the last two weeks (recording top-five finishes in the final two qualifying events) was special.”

Much to the surprise of nobody, Tommy Fleetwood was given a captain’s pick after just being nudged out of the automatic spots by Fitzpatrick at the weekend. The Englishman will be making his third appearance for Europe, having experienced both a win and a loss, and he can’t wait to get going on home soil.

“A home crowd is the most amazing thing, it’s the greatest atmosphere we can play in front of for sure.”

Donald will be leaning on one of his more experienced players to not only perform and get the better of the US team, but to aid and guide the four rookies teeing it up in Italy.

Another experienced head that Donald has given the nod to is Justin Rose. The 43-year-old will be playing in his sixth Ryder Cup and will be a pivotal part of the Team Europe locker room.

The Englishman re-entered the winners circle on the PGA Tour this year by capturing the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and is back in form and playing the golf that fans have been accustomed to throughout his glittering career.

Rose admitted there is nothing quite like team golf: “You’re doing it for something that is bigger than yourself. I’ve always felt like when you put on the shirt and have got the crest on your chest, it inspires you to be the best version of yourself.”

Shane Lowry also got the call, marking his second appearance on the team after experiencing the tough loss in 2019.

The Irishman was one of the brighter sparks on a tricky week for the team, producing clutch putts in crucial moments and thumping his chest with passion throughout.

The 2019 Open winner was delighted to get a pick: “I’m incredibly proud and grateful, all of the above. Very excited for Rome. You know the last one hurt a little bit but I’m excited for a home Ryder Cup and very grateful that Luke has given me the opportunity to go there and show what I can do again.”

Donald will be hoping for more of the same at Marco Simone, despite his form not being in the best place it has been in recent years.