Luke Donald backs Ireland golf fans to restore the Ryder Cup’s reputation at Adare Manor

LUKE Donald is backing Irish golf fans to restore the Ryder Cup’s reputation at Adare Manor after the shocking behaviour from unruly US supporters in the last edition.

Rory McIlroy, in particular, was subjected to some awful abuse during Europe’s win over the Americans at Bethpage Black in New York last September.

It was easily the worst behaviour that had been witnessed in the biennial event, with the spotlight now turning to Ireland for the centenary edition in County Limerick.

Donald will be at the helm for Europe once again after the Englishman accepted the chance to create history by becoming the first captain from either team to win three matches in a row.

And the man who already masterminded victories in Rome in 2023 then that one in New York is confident the Irish fans will be cheering rather than jeering.

“Yeah, I'm fully expecting it to be very respectful,” said Donald in a video call on Wednesday afternoon with a group of golf writers. “You know, passionate fans getting behind Team Europe.

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“I've spent a lot of time playing Irish Opens and obviously The K Club at the Ryder Cup in 2006. Just electric atmospheres where it's a really feel-good crowd.

“They love their golf. They love the hospitality. They are very hospitable in terms of welcoming people, and I expect the matches to be played in a very respectful and classy way. That will certainly be my messaging to them.”

Donald took his time to decide if he wanted to join Tony Jacklin and Bernard Gallacher as the only people to captain Europe in three or more matches.

But, encouraged by his wife Diane and their three girls, the former world No 1 admitted that the chance to write his name in the record books was “something I couldn’t say no to”.

“They were in my ear the week after New York, yeah,” he replied with a smile to being asked if Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry had been particularly encouraging when it came to people encouraging him to go for a three-peat.

“Obviously I live very close to them in the same community in Florida, and we were having a few glasses of wine celebrating and they were already in my ear and I was trying to bat them away and tried to enjoy the moment.

"Yeah, they were very supportive, and obviously that means a great deal to me, as well as many of the other team-mates that I had in New York and in Rome.”