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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Great Britain and Ireland took a 3½-1½ lead over continental Europe after four balls on the first day of the Team Cup, an event that gives European players a taste of the match-play golf they might experience at the Ryder Cup in New York later this year.
One of the points earned for Great Britain and Ireland came from Tyrrell Hatton and Tom McKibbin, a pair consisting of a current LIV Golfer and someone who could soon join the rogue Saudi circuit.
Hatton and McKibbin beat Antoine Rozner and Julien Guerrier 3&2, while the pair of Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai were another big winner for GB&I, beating Italy’s Francesco Molinari and Matteo Manassero 4&2.
Molinari captains continental Europe, which won the tournament in 2023 – when it was called the Heroes’ Cup – 14½-10½.
Only two of Friday’s five matches reached the 18th hole at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort. Jordan Smith and Laurie Canter halved the final hole to secure victory for GB&I over Rasmus Hojgaard and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, while Continental Europe’s pair of Thorbjorn Olesen and Niklas Norgaard were tied with Matthew Jordan and Paul Waring.
The only win for continental Europe came from France’s Matthieu Pavon and Romain Langasque, who beat Great Britain and Ireland captain Justin Rose and Matt Wallace 3-1.
The event was previously called The Seve Trophy and was played eight times from 2000 to 2013, with GB&I winning six times and Continental Europe winning twice.
Six of the 20 players and captains from the 2023 edition ended up playing in the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone outside Rome, when Europe won to reclaim the cup.
The next Ryder Cup is at Bethpage Black in September.
