Justin Rose hailed his “relentless” Great Britain and Ireland team after an emphatic 17-8 victory over Continental Europe in the Team Cup competition in Abu Dhabi.
Rose’s team won the first two sessions 3½-1½ and Saturday afternoon’s foursomes 4-1, leading 11-4 heading into Sunday’s singles matches, with only two more sessions needed to win.
Matthieu Pavon, whose excellent partner Frenchman Romain Langasque had won three of four points in continental Europe, was five to eight holes behind but was two points back as Tommy Fleetwood set the tone for Great Britain and Ireland.
Laurie Canter secured the first point with a 5-4 victory over exceptional Langasque, and when Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton went two ahead with two in hand, victory was assured.
Fleetwood had the honor of formally finishing the job when Pavon failed to escape a bunker in the 17th, securing a 3-1 victory, which was soon matched by Hatton.
Rose defeated Julien Guerrier 3 and 2, and Paul Waring continued his impressive week by hitting Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen 4 and 3.
Niklas Norgaard defeated Matthew Jordan as Continental Europe took three points from their last four games, with victories coming from Antoine Rozner and Matteo Manassero, while Continental captain Francesco Molinari and Rasmus Hojgaard split their games in half.
“I loved the challenge, I loved the experience of it and the guys make me look incredibly good at it,” said Rose, widely touted as a future Ryder Cup captain.
“The way they played was first-class. We tried to go out there and be relentless, play wave after wave, and today we had a big lead and I think everyone thought we could get the job done.
“The match is a game in which dynamics is important, which involves taking the key shot at the right moment. The margins are always smaller than you might think on the scoreboard, but I think it was an amazing way for all of us as individuals to start the season.”
Ryder Cup star Fleetwood, who took all four points during the week to add to his outstanding record in the team event, said: “It’s obviously a great feeling; what an incredible group of lads we had this week and an incredible captain. Just a pleasure to be a part of it.”
