Luke Donald's Ryder Cup meeting has 13 obvious names for Adare Manor - the scramble for 3 spots is on

The Englishman was appointed in the role after Henrik Stenson lost the post following his decision to join LIV Golf for the breakaway circuit’s launch in 2022.

Donald duly mastermind a 16.5-11.5 win over the United States at Marco Simone Golf Club on the outskirts of Rome in 2023 and was immediately encouraged by his players to stay on in the role.

He did and, despite a nervy last day as the Americans threatened to full off an incredible fightback it was mission accomplished again with a 15-13 victory at Bethpage Black near New York last September.

On the back of those successes, the former world No 1 decided a chance to create history was something he should accept and his opposite number on this occasion will be Jim Furyk.

As exclusively revealed by The Scotsman, Donald is hosting a 16-player gathering at Adare Manor straight after the Amgen Irish Open finishes at Doonbeg on Sunday week.

It is being described as a “familiarisation trip” and is likely to involve most, if not all, of the 13 players who have played for Donald in the last two matches.

If so, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Rose, Bob MacIntyre, Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Ludwig Aberg, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Sepp Straka and the Hojgaard twins - Nicolai and Rasmus - will all be there.

Some of those players, including McIlroy and Lowry, played at Adare Manor when it hosted the JP McManus Pro-Am, which was last held at the County Limerick venue in 2022, but, for others, it will be a first visit.

If just a handful of spots are up for grabs, then who are the main contenders? Alex Fitzpatrick, Matt’s younger brother, is definitely in the frame after winning on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour this year.

Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan, who also tasted victory on the US circuit - in his case, it was in the Truist Championship, one of the Signature Events - would be another player in the frame.

Oh, and let’s not forget about Aaron Rai, who produced a super-cool finish to become a first-time major this year as he landed the PGA Championship at Aronimink.

Another Englishman, Marco Penge, narrowly missed out on the 2025 team and looks as though he could be in the frame again, so he could well be part of that upcoming get-together and the same goes for Matt Wallace.

It’s also possible that either Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra or Finland’s Oliver Lindell could be there if Donald like what he saw in either of them when the trio were in the same group on the opening two days of the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo at The Belfry last week.