Ryder Cup stars Fleetwood and Molinari to captain teams at Hero Cup

Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood will be playing captains at the Hero Cup.

Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari, the Ryder Cup stars who formed a formidable partnership in Paris in 2018, will each lead a team at the Hero Cup in January.

The new golf matchplay event, will see teams of British and Irish players take on their continental European counterparts in Abu Dhabi in January 2023 as preparation for the Ryder Cup.

The match, which effectively fills the gap left by the long-running Seve Trophy, is aimed at giving European players vital experience in team matchplay contests.

Two ten-man teams, both of which will be selected by European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, will do battle at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from January 13-15 next year.

The Great Britain and Ireland team will be captained by two-time Ryder Cup star Fleetwood, with Molinari, Fleetwood’s partner in Paris in 2018, leading the Continental Europe team.

Donald will work with both teams in Abu Dhabi and will keep a close eye on the action inside the ropes across the three days, with the contest consisting of one session of foursomes, one session of fourballs and one session of singles matches. All 20 players will take part in each session.

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“One of the first things I was keen to do when I was appointed as Ryder Cup Captain was to reinstate a team match play contest to give playing and leadership experience to future Ryder Cup players, vice-captains and Captains,” Donald said. 

“I spoke to a number of former Ryder Cup Captains who were strong advocates of how similar events in the past have benefitted players who were pushing to make Ryder Cup teams, as well as their own captaincy journey. 

“I am therefore grateful to Hero MotoCorp and the DP World Tour for supporting the concept of the Hero Cup and I look forward to seeing the players compete at Abu Dhabi Golf Club (below) in January.”

Similar events in the form of the Seve Trophy and EurAsia Cup have been played in the past, but there was no such event ahead of Europe’s heavy defeat at Whistling Straits in 2021.

Molinari, who won all five of his matches in 2018 and has played in two Ryder Cups, believes it will be of huge benefit ahead of Europe’s attempts to reclaim the trophy.

“The Hero Cup is a great idea and will be a very good way for European players to get some more experience of playing in team match play,” the former Open champion said. “I definitely felt like it benefited me when I played in similar events in the past.

“Hopefully as captains Tommy and I can bring some of our own experience of team golf to help the other players and we are looking forward to working with Luke on this exciting new concept ahead of a big year for European golf with the Ryder Cup taking place in my home country.”

Fleetwood, who combined with Molinari to form ‘Moliwood’ and win all four of their matches at Le Golf National, will be seeking a third-successive Ryder Cup appearance.

“Fran and I obviously get on very well so I am sure it will feel a little strange at first being opposing captains, but I think the Hero Cup is a fantastic way for players to compete in team match play, which is something both of us have always relished,” the Englishman said.

Donald, who replaced Henrik Stenson as captain following the Swede’s LIV Golf defection, will lead Europe into action at Italy’s Marco Simone Country Club (pictured below) next September and this will give him the perfect opportunity to spot potential partnerships and cast his eye over potential picks.

Six players will automatically qualify for the Englishman’s Ryder Cup team via the World and European points lists, with the qualification period beginning at Wentworth this week. However, Donald will also have six captain’s picks – a first for Team Europe. It is not yet known if he will be able to select any players who have joined LIV Golf or if they will be eligible for the Hero Cup.

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The two teams for January’s event will be confirmed following the conclusion of the 2022 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, with performance on the DP World Tour Rankings taken into account in the player selection process. 

The Hero Cup extends Hero MotoCorp’s long-term relationship with the European Tour group which began at the 2015 Hero Indian Open. Since then, Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles, has also supported the Hero Challenge, a series of fast-paced showpiece events and short form social and digital content, which have taken golf to new audiences, as well as the Hero Open which has featured on the DP World Tour schedule since 2020. 

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“We have always supported innovation in golf and this new team match play event on the DP World Tour is certainly an interesting format,” Dr Pawan Munjal, Chairman & CEO, Hero MotoCorp, said.

“We are happy to extend our long-term partnership with the European Tour Group. I am sure the Hero Cup will support and provide an opportunity to the talented European players to showcase their incredible skill to a global audience. We are excited to be part of this.”

Guy Kinnings (above with Donald), European Ryder Cup Director and the DP World Tour’s Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer, welcomed the new event.

“The Hero Cup is another example of Hero MotoCorp’s commitment to innovation in golf and to our Tour in general,” he said. “We are therefore extremely grateful to Dr. Munjal for his continued support and for backing this new event which is an evolution of our proud tradition of team match play events. 

“Our thanks also go to Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the Emirates Golf Federation for their support of the DP World Tour, and to Abu Dhabi Golf Club for hosting this event which will be a fantastic way to start the 2023 calendar year.”

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