Luke Donald will undertake a reconnaissance mission at the notoriously brutal 2025 Ryder Cup venue in New York next month… as Tiger Woods continues to mull over the decision to captain the US team.

Luke Donald will embark on a reconnaissance mission to the 2025 Ryder Cup venue in New York next month.

At a time when the US PGA has yet to decide who will lead its team, with Tiger Woods mulling over the American captaincy, European preparations are gaining pace.

Mail Sport understands that will include Donald’s trip to Bethpage Black in May to monitor the changes being made to the notoriously brutal course.

No team has won away from home in the Cup since Europe’s victory at Medinah in 2012 and Donald’s task will be fiendishly difficult in front of what will no doubt be a raucous, one-sided crowd.

His successful first spell as captain was characterized by a meticulous approach and that appears to have materialized as Donald has already appointed Edoardo Molinari as vice-captain.

That would appear to have given Europe an early advantage over the United States, which is currently adrift in the middle of a waiting game with Woods.

The winner of 15 major tournaments has effectively been told the captaincy is his and revealed on Tuesday that he will finally hold direct talks about the job next week.

The delay in crystallizing the American situation has also influenced the preparations in Europe, since behind the scenes there is a desire for the two captains to reach a quick agreement on what to do with the eligibility of the golfers who departed for the LIV circuit.

With Europe at risk of losing Jon Rahm, Donald’s need appears to be more pressing.