The event is set to be played at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland, from 13-19 September 2027.
Molinari joins his brother Edoardo in Donald’s backroom team for the third consecutive Ryder Cup, both having previously been Vice Captains for the victories at Marco Simone in 2023 and Bethpage in 2025.
The trio will now aim to guide Europe to a third consecutive win against the United States when the Ryder Cup celebrates its 100th anniversary next year.
“I was very pleased when Luke asked me. I’ve had two great experiences in Rome and New York, two very different ones, but both of them memorable, and some of the best weeks of my life,” said Molinari.
“So, it was an easy, straightforward decision. I was honoured and pleased when Luke phoned me. We’ve been together as a team for a while now, so it was a very easy conversation to have. Anytime you get asked to be involved, there’s only one possible answer, and I can’t wait to be there again.
“Luke has been a great leader these past few years. I think he has really found something special in this role. He fits it perfectly, and he’s only gotten better with time and experience.
“Communication is a huge part of his job, of our job. Communicating with the players, with us, and expressing his ideas and just trying to get everyone on the same page. What I saw in Bethpage was definitely the best captaincy I’ve ever witnessed in the Ryder Cups I have been involved in, so I’m looking forward to seeing further evolution since the next two years leading into Ireland.
“I think Ireland is going to be a very special. Last time it was there, at The K Club, I watched it on TV, but I wasn’t really involved. So it’s something I’ve heard a lot about, the Irish fans and the whole Irish atmosphere, and I can’t wait to experience it myself.”
Meanwhile, Donald can’t wait to be on the course with his friend.
“I’m really excited to have Francesco back on board. He has been an integral part of the backroom team as a Vice Captain the last two times I’ve been Captain,” said the Englishman.
“It was a pretty easy decision for me. He brings a wealth of experience, a wealth of being successful at the Ryder Cup, and I just love his personality.
“He is very quiet, very measured, and he really thinks about his role and how he can create the right atmosphere and the right culture that we’ve had for the last couple of Ryder Cups.
“I think continuity also has a special part to play. The players know what Francesco brings – some real excellence and history when it comes to the Ryder Cup. He is the only player to win five matches, which he did in Paris, and he is a familiar face.
“People know how to talk to him, and he knows how to talk to the players as well. He brings great qualities to the backroom team.
“I think we have a great working relationship. We have a great friendship off and on the golf course, and that’s important. You want to be able to feel like you can pick up the phone anytime and chat through things.”
As a player, Molinari featured in three victorious European Ryder Cup teams, including two on home soil. He made his debut alongside his brother Edoardo at The Celtic Manor Resort in 2010 and two years later at Medinah, he secured the half point in the final Singles match against Tiger Woods, which ensured that Jose María Olazabal’s team won the 2012 Ryder Cup outright 14.5 – 13.5.
In 2018, he became the first European player to win all five of his matches in a Ryder Cup, as Thomas Bjorn’s team triumphed 17.5 – 10.5 at Le Golf National in Paris. Earlier that year, Molinari won The Open Championship at Carnoustie, becoming Italy’s first major champion.
Molinari was a playing Captain for Continental Europe against Great Britain and Ireland in the Team Cup in 2025 and the 2023 version of the event, known as the Hero Cup. He has also played in three editions of the Seve Trophy and has won six times on the DP World Tour. Those wins include two triumphs on home soil at the Italian Open, in 2006 and 2016, as well as a Rolex Series title at the BMW PGA Championship in 2018.
He won the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai in 2018 and has won twice individually on American soil on the PGA TOUR, claiming the Quicken Loans National in 2018 and the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2019.
