Surprising ex-LIV Golf star on Ryder Cup radar as Luke Donald makes feelings clear

European captain Luke Donald has made it clear that former golfer Eugenio Chacarra is on his radar ahead of the 45th in September. Donald is tasked with building a roster capable of achieving Europe's first win on American soil since 2012 when Bethpage Black hosts the showcase event.

Europe are the Ryder Cup holders but have tasted defeat in the last two editions across the Atlantic after their triumph at Medinah Country Club 13 years ago. Donald will make his captain's picks in late August, leaving plenty of time for the continent's best players to earn a place in his thinking. Chacarra is already drifting onto the 47-year-old's radar with his impressive exploits on the DP World Tour.

In March, the Spaniard won the Hero Indian Open title at the DLF Golf and Country Club, considered one of the world's most difficult courses.

He later finished T4 at the Volvo China Open and T11 at the Hainan Classic, gaining Donald's attention in the process.

"Everyone's on the radar," Donald explained while attending the Turkish Airlines Open on the DP World Tour this week.

"Anyone European who wins, I'm always sending them a message of congratulations. Winning on a difficult course in India, that shows a lot, and we'll keep an eye on him."

Chacarra was among the world's elite amateur golf players when he joined LIV Golf in 2022, competing on the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit until late last year.

The 25-year-old has made no secret of the financial reasoning for his decision to join LIV, boldly claiming it was hampering his ambition to play in a Ryder Cup.

He has since impressed on the DP World Tour and is currently 14th early on in the Race to Dubai standings.

The top 10 players not already exempt will earn a dual-PGA Tour card at the end of the season, which Chacarra is now eligible for after serving a one-year ban for his LIV move.

A few weeks ago, Donald was just as interested in assessing potential Ryder Cup players as he was focused on his own game at the Zurich Classic.

He said: "It's great this week to see so many Europeans here. Obviously, a little bit of a dynamic from the alliance we have and the 10 cards [PGA Tour spots for DP World Tour players].

"It seems like more and more Europeans are coming and playing. It'll be interesting to see how they do. I'll certainly be keeping an eye.

"I had a few conversations earlier in the year about potential partnerships amongst some of these Europeans that I thought might work."