Luke Donald has backed the idea of a mixed Ryder Cup-Solheim Cup-style event bringing the leading men and women from Europe and the United States together.
The former European Ryder Cup captain believes there is plenty of potential in mixed golf, particularly after Europe’s dramatic 15-13 Solheim Cup victory over the United States at Bernardus Golf in the Netherlands. The teams were locked at 8-8 heading into the Sunday singles before Europe reclaimed the trophy.
Donald pointed to the Grant Thornton Invitational as evidence that mixed competition can work at the professional level.
“I’m all for having some events where we’re playing together and sharing each other’s talents,” Donald told the Telegraph.
“Who wouldn’t want to see a Nelly Korda or Charley Hull playing with a Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm or Scottie Scheffler – some of the best in the world in the men’s and women’s games?”
The Grant Thornton Invitational already pairs PGA Tour and LPGA stars in 16 two-player teams at Tiburón Golf Club in Florida. New Zealand’s Lydia Ko won the inaugural tournament alongside Australian Jason Day in 2023, providing a Kiwi connection to the growth of mixed professional golf.
The concept will receive an even bigger stage at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where mixed-team golf will make its debut at Riviera Country Club. Sixteen nations will be represented by one male and one female golfer, with the competition played over 36 holes.
Donald acknowledged that fitting another major team event into an already crowded professional schedule would be the biggest obstacle.
“It would take a little bit of creating. All good events take time to create a legacy and history,” he said.
“So it would be a challenge just finding the time to fit it in and create something that was of real worth and value.”
With established mixed competition at the Grant Thornton Invitational and Olympic mixed-team golf arriving in 2028, however, the prospect of men and women sharing the stage in a Ryder Cup-style contest is gaining momentum.
