Continental Europe lead GB&I by 1 point in Hero Cup
TWO SESSIONS OF FOURSOMES, THE ALTERNATE SHOT FORMAT ON DAY 2
The Continental Europe Team, captained by Francesco Molinari, leads Team Great Britain & Ireland, captained by Tommy Fleetwood, by 3 points to 2 after the Day One 18 hole fourballs in the Hero Cup over the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Four of the five matches of this ‘Team Europe rehearsal’ for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome made the 18th hole with Continental Europe winning the top match by 1 hole and the second match by two holes.
The third match ended in a tie and the fifth match of the session saw Seamus Power and Robert MacIntyre win GB & I’s only point of the day. Power and MacIntyre were 10 under par betterball for their first 13 holes for a 4 & 3 victory shaking hands with Sepp Straka and Adrian Meronk on the 15th green.
With just the final match still on the golf course, and being watched by players from both teams as well as 2023 Team Europe Captain Luke Donald and a group of former Captains and vice-Captains, witnessed another tied match with Richard Mansell sinking the crucial last birdie putt of the day to see GB&I keeping it close right until the end.
Amazing work
Molinari said: “I’m really, really happy and proud of how we started today. I think obviously a lot of tight matches which is good for Luke and the vice captains to see. My guys did amazing. Obviously it’s a nice start, long way to go but it’s always nice winning a day, winning a session.
Fleetwood said: “I think it was a good team performance on the first day. I know we would have loved to have finished the day and been on the right side of the scoreboard and been up. Unbelievable really that four matches go down the last. Just shows how close the teams are in terms of levels.”
Day 2 today sees two sessions of foursomes, the alternate shot format, with all 10 players participating in two matches each, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
On Day 3 tomorrow, there are 10 singles matches with the winning team the first to get to 13 points.
The final match witnessed another tied match with Richard Mansell sinking the crucial last birdie putt of the day to see GB & I keeping it close right until the end.