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via Imago

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European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has confirmed that his brother Christian will be part of the team’s plans despite being a caddie for LIV Golf star Brendan Steele. The LIV Golf series has caused controversy since its formation last summer, with players being suspended from PGA and DP World Tour competitions. While LIV Golf players are still officially not eligible to participate in the Ryder Cup, it seems that caddies are not subject to the same restrictions.

LIV Golf participant Christian to play a role in the Ryder Cup

Christian Donald is currently caddying for HyFlyers GC star Brendan Steele on the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series. Despite this connection, Luke Donald is keen to have his brother involved in Rome later this year, stating that he hopes Christian will play “some sort of role” on the team. While the Ryder Cup’s official stance on LIV Golf players competing remains unclear, it is possible that Christian’s involvement signals a willingness to include LIV Golf personnel in some capacity.

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When asked about his brother’s participation in the Saudi-backed league, Donald said as per Golfweek, “No feelings, really. For someone who is 51 and has two kids under four, it’s a great opportunity for him. He’s going to know his schedule, he’s going to have guaranteed money, he’s going to travel less and be around his family. In terms of that, it’s a bonus. You go where your player goes.”

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He continued: “I’ll miss seeing him a little bit more. I’m sure he’ll be at the Ryder Cup, too.”
Asked if his brother would be helping him out in some way, Donald said, “I hope so. We haven’t had a formal discussion but he was my buggy (cart) driver the last two times I served as vice-captain. There are different roles as a captain, but yeah, I think he’ll be there in some sort of role.”

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Luke Donald backs his brother and LIV Golf players

In his comments about his brother’s involvement, Luke Donald expressed no concern over Christian’s connection to LIV Golf. He stated that as a caddie, Christian had no choice but to follow his player and that he saw no issue with his brother taking advantage of the opportunities that LIV Golf presented. While it remains to be seen whether LIV Golf players will be allowed to compete in the Ryder Cup, it seems that Luke Donald is willing to include those with connections to the series in his team’s plans.

The controversy surrounding LIV Golf and its impact on the Ryder Cup continues. There are questions remaining about whether LIV Golf players will be allowed to participate in the tournament. However, Luke Donald’s confirmation of his brother’s involvement in the Ryder Cup despite his LIV connections suggests that there may be some flexibility in the rules. It remains to be seen whether this will extend to LIV Golf players themselves, but Luke Donald’s willingness to include those with connections to the series in his team’s plans may be a sign of things to come.

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