Ryder Cup: Who will be Europe's next captain?

Europe are expected to announce their next Ryder Cup captain in the coming weeks, but who will succeed Padraig Harrington and lead the team in the 2023 contest?

Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Italy will host the biennial event from September 29-October 1 next year, live on Sky Sports' dedicated Ryder Cup channel, where Europe will be desperate to regain the trophy after their record-breaking loss at Whistling Straits.

Former world No 1 Lee Westwood was initially the favourite to take over from Harrington, having made 11 Ryder Cup appearances as a player and also serving as vice-captain to Thomas Bjorn in the 2018 victory, although the Englishman has since ruled himself out of consideration for the role.

Westwood decided to keep his attention on staying competitive at the highest level and remains in the world's top 50, leaving the vacancy open for a different European Ryder Cup stalwart to fill.

Luke Donald has emerged as a strong contender for the role, with the former world No 1 having played in four winning Ryder Cup teams and serving as a vice-captain for the past two events.

The 44-year-old has already received an endorsement from Harrington, who said his former assistant "would be great" as a captain, with Donald "humbled" by the Irishman's comments and open to the prospect of leading Team Europe.

"If I was given the opportunity, I would dearly love it and be very grateful and honoured to take it up," Donald said during The American Express. "It's something, again, I would love to do and I know there's a worthy list of people who could do this job and be the next Ryder Cup captain."

Denmark's Bjorn led Europe to victory at Le Golf National in the last home contest, with a couple of Swedish names potentially