# Could golf's best play mixed team events? > Luke Donald floats the idea of a Ryder Cup-style mixed tournament, but the calendar and logistics make it complicated. - Title: Could golf's best play mixed team events? · Sky Sports - Summary: Luke Donald floats the idea of a Ryder Cup-style mixed tournament, but the calendar and logistics make it complicated. A mixed-gender golf team event sounds… - Keywords: rory mcilroy, nelly korda, luke donald, ryder cup, solheim cup, presidents cup, mixed team event, team europe, pga tour, lpga tour, golf calendar, international competition - Source: Sky Sports — https://skysports.com/golf/news/12040/13590587/rory-mcilroy-vs-nelly-korda-could-a-ryder-cup-solheim-cup-style-mixed-team-event-ever-happen-and-how-would-it-work - Published: 2026-09-22T08:45:00+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: rory mcilroy, nelly korda, luke donald, ryder cup, solheim cup, presidents cup, mixed team event, team europe, pga tour, lpga tour, golf calendar, international competition ## Luke Donald pitches mixed golf teams Team Europe captain Luke Donald suggested creating a mixed-gender team event similar to the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, featuring top men and women competing together. > Who wouldn't want to see a Nelly Korda or Charley Hull playing with a Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm or Scottie Scheffler? ## The dream matchup Donald envisions pairings like Nelly Korda or Charley Hull alongside Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, or Scottie Scheffler, combining the world's elite from both games. ## Mixed golf already exists The Grant Thornton Invitational, held every December with PGA Tour and DP World Tour players, is a current mixed team tournament. The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will also feature mixed team golf. ## Calendar is already packed The Ryder Cup, Solheim Cup, and Presidents Cup all happen in September after the PGA Tour season ends. Adding another major team event would squeeze an already tight schedule. ## Players won't commit easily Paul McGinley, a former Ryder Cup captain, noted players are unlikely to play another team event, especially without payment, making the logistics extremely complex. > Are the players going to play another team event, particularly when they're probably not going to get paid for it? ## The schedule keeps tightening Former DP World Tour player Anthony Wall said the golf calendar is getting tighter with Olympics golf added, making it harder for players to commit to more events. > The schedule is getting tighter and tighter. You've got golf in the Olympics and it's getting harder and harder for guys to commit. ## Donald admits it takes time Donald acknowledged that creating a mixed Europe versus America team event would take considerable time and be difficult to fit into the calendar practically. > It's great in principle but, when you get down to the practicalities of it, where it's going to fit in the calendar? ## Presidents Cup could go mixed Some have debated making the Presidents Cup mixed to balance competition, as five of the world's top six women golfers would be eligible for an International Team. ## PGA and LPGA partnership possible McGinley suggested the PGA Tour could partner with the LPGA Tour to create a mixed event, potentially forming a stronger International Team against the United States. > If you add half of the ladies internationally combined with the men, you would have a pretty formidable team. ## Tour officials say no so far The PGA Tour has already rejected the idea of a mixed Presidents Cup, though McGinley suggested they might open a new pathway for mixed competition in the future. ## Great idea, tough reality While mixed team golf appeals to fans and players alike, the combination of calendar constraints, player availability, and lack of payment makes it extremely difficult to execute at the highest level. ## Key takeaway A mixed-gender golf team event sounds great in theory, but finding calendar space and getting players to commit without pay remains the real challenge.