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This year, Europe aims for a momentous Ryder Cup victory on American soil, as 20 players vie for a spot on Luke Donald’s team during a unique three-day event.
The ‘Team Cup’ will feature golfers from Great Britain and Ireland competing against their counterparts from Continental Europe. This exciting tournament takes place at the Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and can be watched live on Sky Sports Golf starting Friday.
For details on the participants, the tournament format, and its implications for the Ryder Cup, read on.
Understanding the Team Cup
The Team Cup, part of the DP World Tour, brings together 10 players each from Great Britain and Ireland and Continental Europe for a match play tournament spanning three days. This format aims to enhance participants’ experience in competition settings similar to the Ryder Cup.
Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari are set to act as playing captains for the two teams. Luke Donald, the European Ryder Cup captain, was instrumental in selecting the line-ups in collaboration with Rose and Molinari, as he prepares to lead Europe against the United States at the Ryder Cup this September at Bethpage Black.
Qualification for Teams
The top four players from the 2024 Race to Dubai rankings qualified automatically for each team, with five additional captain’s picks made by Donald post the DP World Tour Championship. The last member for both teams was decided following the Nedbank Golf Challenge, ensuring a blend of seasoned Ryder Cup veterans and some rising stars from the DP World Tour.
Representing Great Britain and Ireland
Tyrrell Hatton stands out as the only LIV Golf player in the mix, eyeing his fourth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance this year. He is joined by automatic qualifiers Tommy Fleetwood, Paul Waring—who clinched the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title—and Matt Wallace.
Other notable members of Rose’s squad include Tom McKibbin, who has achieved dual membership on the PGA Tour, Jordan Smith, Laurie Canter, and Aaron Rai, with Matthew Jordan rounding out the team lineup.
Continental Europe’s Representatives
On Molinari’s side, Thorbjorn Olesen, a Ryder Cup representative from 2018, qualified along with Rasmus Højgaard, Niklas Nørgaard, and Matteo Manassero, who secured their spots through the Race to Dubai rankings. Additional team members include Matthieu Pavon, who broke a 100-year drought for French winners on the PGA Tour, Antoine Rozner, and Ryder Cup participant Nicolai Hojgaard. The final selection for Molinari’s team is Romain Langasque.
Format of the Competition
The Team Cup adopts a format akin to that of the Ryder Cup, incorporating match play over three days with a combination of fourballs, foursomes, and singles matches. Unlike the Ryder Cup, every player participates in each session.
The timetable includes one session of fourballs on Friday, followed by two sessions of foursomes on Saturday. Each session comprises five matches, with a maximum of one point available per match. The competition format encourages team collaboration and strategic play, emphasizing both individual talent and teamwork.
Previous Performances
Previously known as the Hero Cup, the Team Cup debuted in January 2023. In that inaugural event, Molinari led Continental Europe to a victory, defeating the GB and Ireland team 14½ to 10½, which was captained by Tommy Fleetwood. This event also bears resemblance to the Seve Trophy, an important tournament that provided captaincy experience to many Ryder Cup leaders.
Significance for the Ryder Cup
Notably, six competitors from the Team Cup in 2023 subsequently represented Team Europe in that year’s Ryder Cup, with Fleetwood playing a crucial role in clinching the title against Team USA. As the European side gears up for this September’s event, multiple players from the Team Cup are expected to feature on the team seeking their first away victory since the iconic ‘Miracle at Medinah’ in 2012.
How to Watch the Team Cup
Sky Sports will provide comprehensive coverage of the Team Cup across all three days, marking a significant addition to the DP World Tour schedule for 2025. Live broadcasts commence Friday at 7 AM on Sky Sports Golf, with subsequent sessions scheduled throughout the weekend.
On Saturday, coverage will kick off at 2:30 AM, immediately following the PGA Tour’s Sony Open, while the Sunday singles will begin at 6:30 AM. Fans can also follow the action and get updates via the Sky Sports App, offering live commentary and highlights from the event.
Viewers are invited to follow the coverage on SkyGo, and those without Sky subscriptions can explore options to acquire Sky Sports or stream through NOW to stay engaged with this highly anticipated golfing event. The DP World Tour will be exclusively covered live on Sky Sports Golf throughout the 2025 season.
Source
www.skysports.com