Luke Donald says being Ryder Cup captain is "one of the greatest honours that can be bestowed upon a golfer" after he was confirmed as Henrik Stenson's replacement on Monday.

The former world number one will skipper Europe against the United States in Rome next year after Stenson was stripped of the role for joining LIV Golf last month.

Donald never finished on the losing side in the four Ryder Cups he played in, amassing 10.5 points from his 15 matches.

The Englishman also served as a vice-captain in the past two editions of the prestigious biennial event.

Donald is elated to have been given the opportunity to step up and captain the team for the first time at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club next September.

So excited and truly honoured to be named European Ryder Cup Captain, I’m really looking forward to the next 14 months & getting my team ready for Rome. pic.twitter.com/KnqaLxpfL1

— Luke Donald (@LukeDonald) August 1, 2022

He said: "I am incredibly proud to be named European Ryder Cup Captain for 2023. It is truly one of the greatest honours that can be bestowed upon a golfer, to lead a team of your peers and be an ambassador for an entire continent.

"I feel extremely privileged to have been given that responsibility and it is a responsibility I do not take lightly.

"Some of my best experiences in golf have been in the Ryder Cup and I would not swap those for anything. It is an event like no other and I cannot wait to create more special memories in Italy next year.

"I love everything the Ryder Cup embodies, from the camaraderie and companionship of being part of a team, to the history of the contest, but most of all playing for something bigger than yourself.

"Rome will be a fantastic host city, and I have always enjoyed spending time there. It is a city rich in history and hopefully we can create some of our own in 14 months' time."

Thomas Bjorn and Edoardo Molinari will retain the roles of vice-captain under Donald, who last week vowed not to go down the same route as Swede Stenson if he got the job.

"If I got this captaincy, I would live up to my word and see it through," he said. "Let me put it that way. I wouldn't be doing a Henrik."

Europe will be striving to regain the famous trophy in the Italian captain after they were thrashed 19–9 at Whistling Straits last year.