Abu Dhabi Golf Resort will be the venue for the Team Cup on the DP World Tour, featuring a captivating three-day match play event pitting Great Britain & Ireland against Continental Europe. Notable figures Francesco Molinari and Justin Rose have been appointed as Playing Captains for their respective teams, with the competition set to unfold on the esteemed National Course from January 10th to 12th, 2025. The event is poised to kick off the golf season with a bang, showcasing top talent from both regions.
Molinari, who led Continental Europe to victory two years prior, will face off against his Ryder Cup comrade Rose, who is taking on the captaincy for Great Britain and Ireland for the first time. Each captain will guide a team of ten DP World Tour members through the three-day match play, with Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald overseeing the event, as he did in 2023. Donald will be closely observing potential Team Europe members, aiming to fine-tune his selection and prepare for the 41st Ryder Cup in late September 2025 at Bethpage Black in New York.
The Team Cup is particularly significant as Team Europe has introduced a new qualifying system for the 2025 Ryder Cup, making it a critical platform for players to demonstrate their readiness to compete at the highest level of golf. The teams will include the top four available players from Continental Europe and GB & I based on the final 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings, with the remaining five players on each team chosen by the respective captains in consultation with Donald.
Donald expressed his satisfaction with the return of the Team Cup, highlighting its value in providing players with essential team experience. He also praised the appointment of Molinari and Rose as captains, noting their impressive performances in previous events. The Team Cup, previously known as the Hero Cup, was inaugurated in January 2023, with Molinari's Continental Europe team defeating GB & I led by Tommy Fleetwood 14½ -10½. Several players from that match went on to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup.
Abu Dhabi Sports Council has renewed its partnership with the event, reinforcing its dedication to golf in the region and its support for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, scheduled from November 4th to 7th, 2024, at Yas Links, Yas Island. Abu Dhabi Golf Resort has a rich history of hosting the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, having done so for 16 consecutive editions from 2006 to 2021.
