ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Great Britain and Ireland cruised to a 17-8 victory over Continental Europe in the Team Cup, an event that provided European players with valuable match play experience ahead of this year’s Ryder Cup in New York.
Tommy Fleetwood secured a point to seal an expected victory for Great Britain and Ireland, who led 11-4 in Sunday’s singles match after dominating the first two days at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort.
GB&I needed just two more singles points and after Laurie Canter defeated Romain Langasque (5 and 4), Fleetwood defeated Matthieu Pavon (3 and 1). Fleetwood also scored the winning point for Europe, defeating the United States in Rome to regain the Ryder Cup in 2023.
“Slightly different circumstances this time, but I feel great,” Fleetwood said. “What an incredible group of guys we had again this week and an incredible captain, so it was good to be a part of it.”
Justin Rose, GB&I captain, said his pre-match message was to “get ahead, try to be relentless and play wave by wave.”
His team won five of their first six games, with Tyrrell Hatton defeating Thorbjorn Olesen 3 and 1; Rose defeats Julien Guerrier, 3 and 2; and Paul Waring defeat Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, 4 and 3.
“I loved the challenge and the experience,” Rose said, “and the guys make me look incredibly good in it.”
Continental Europe, which won two years ago when the event was called the Hero Cup, ended with a strong victory for Niklas Norgaard, Antoine Rozner and Matteo Manassero. The last two matches – between Francesco Molinari and Jordan Smith and Rasmus Hojgaard and Aaron Rai – ended in draws.
The event was previously called The Seve Trophy and was played eight times between 2000 and 2013, with Great Britain and Ireland winning six times and continental Europe winning twice.
Six of the 20 players and captains participating in the 2023 edition played in the Ryder Cup this year.
This year’s Ryder Cup will be held in Bethpage Black in September.
“Match play is special, we don’t do it enough,” Rose said. “You can’t just turn on that tap when you need it, so it’s important to have those opportunities to play. There are a few match play lessons you need to remember.
“You can’t simulate the intensity of the Ryder Cup with the crowd and the energy, but at the end of the day, as soon as you put the crest here,” he said, slapping his chest, “and you have 10 buddies right behind you, you want to win.
