Tommy Fleetwood scored the winning point as Great Britain and Ireland recorded a convincing 17-8 victory over continental Europe in the Ryder Cup-style Team Cup.
Fleetwood secured the point that confirmed Team Europe’s 2023 victory in Rome and repeated the feat in this week’s Ryder Cup-style team event, played as part of preparations ahead of the trip September in Bethpage Black to face the American team.
Justin Rose’s Great Britain and Ireland won each of the first three sessions to move seven points clear of Francesco Molinari’s Continental European side, leaving them needing just two points out of 10 singles matches to win the biennial competition.
Laurie Canter claimed the first singles point after beating Romain Langasque 5&4, ending the Frenchman’s 100% record in the event, before Fleetwood took Great Britain and Ireland to the 13 points required to victory by beating Matthieu Pavon 3&1 in the summit match.
Tyrrell Hatton finished the week undefeated after beating his former Ryder Cup teammate Thorbjorn Olesen by the same margin, while Rose and Paul Waring also claimed singles victories, as Great Britain and Ireland won six points on the final day to complete a resounding victory. .
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Pavon had won three of Continental Europe’s four points alongside Langasque over the first two days, although he quickly found himself three points behind Fleetwood in the summit match despite his first seven holes in four under.
Canter had been sent off in the third match by Rose and earned his point after winning five holes in a six-hole stretch before beating Langasque, victory for Great Britain and Ireland being assured when Fleetwood and Hatton had both two ahead with two to play.
Tyrrell Hatton finished the week with 3.5 points in his four games
Fleetwood’s victory was confirmed when Pavon two-shot out of a greenside bunker at the par-four 17th and conceded the hole, leaving the Englishman – who was on the green in two – the only player to win his four matches.
“It obviously feels good,” said Fleetwood, who was player-captain when Great Britain and Ireland lost in the 2023 Team Cup. “I always find it very motivating and inspiring to be with the guys in a team environment, you want to get the best out of yourself. Glad we managed it this time.”
Hatton completed his victory over Olesen on the same hole, having won three straight holes from the eighth earlier in their high qualifying match, with Rose adding another point by closing out a 3&2 victory over Julien Guerrier.
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Tyrrell Hatton made a huge 45-foot putt during his singles match against Thorbjorn Olesen at the Team Cup
Waring rounded off a memorable week by seeing off Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen 4&3, with Great Britain and Ireland’s margin of victory looking to be even greater until continental Europe hit back in the final matches.
Niklas Norgaard beat Matthew Jordan 3&2 and Matt Wallace squandered a considerable lead on the final holes to give Antoine Rozner a shock 1up victory, with Matteo Manassero also beating Tom McKibbin on the final hole.
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Luke Donald explains the importance of the Team Cup in preparation for the Ryder Cup later this year
The final two matches of the course ended in a draw, with Rasmus Hojgaard coming back from three points down with five to play to gain a half point against Aaron Rai and Molinari also needing a late comeback to finish level with Jordan Smith .
Rose: Team Cup experience will come in handy at Ryder Cup
“There will be a lot of awesome lessons for all the guys in September,” Rose said. “Match play is unique, we don’t do enough. You can’t just turn that tap on immediately, so having those opportunities is really important and there are a lot of lessons to be learned.
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Justin Rose reflects on Great Britain and Ireland’s Team Cup victory and the importance of the event in the run-up to this year’s Ryder Cup
“You can’t simulate the intensity of a Ryder Cup with the crowds and the energy, but you want to win. The environment is hard to replicate, but that competitive match play is so valuable.
“I loved the challenge, the experience and the guys made me look incredibly good at it with the way they played. We had a clear message, start off on the right foot, try to be relentless, play wave after wave.
“We had a big lead today and everyone felt we could do the job, but just to increase everyone’s individual pride. All credit to Continental Europe, they fought until the very end .”
What’s next?
The DP World Tour remains in the Middle East for the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, the opening Rolex Series event of the year, where Rory McIlroy returns as reigning champion. Coverage of the featured group begins from 4am on Thursday on Sky Sports Golf, before full coverage from 7am.
Several of this week’s Team Cup players will likely be at the Ryder Cup later this year, live exclusively from September 26-28 on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and more with NOW.
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