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Francesco Molinari leads the Continental Europe team in the Hero Cup, the Ryder model competition which will be the protagonist from 13 to 15 January in Abu Dhabi. In the selection led by the Turinese there will be, among others, the Vicenza-born Guido Migliozzi.
In the United Arab Emirates, in front of the captain of the Europe team at the 2023 Ryder Cup, Luke Donald, a fundamental opportunity for the two Azzurri who dream of a place in the team for the match against the USA scheduled in Rome from 29 September to 1 October on the course of the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
Francesco Molinari, statements
And in the United Arab Emirates, the Englishman Donald wants to understand who can be part of that expedition. In Abu Dhabi the Continental Europe team challenges that of Great Britain & Ireland led by Tommy Fleetwood, a great friend of Chicco Molinari.
Together, in 2018 and at the Ryder Cup in Paris, they dragged the Old Continent to triumph by annihilating Tiger Woods and his companions. "When you practice a mostly individual sport, playing team competitions is always special.
Many young players, who will be protagonists in the Ryder Cup in the future, will have the opportunity to show off in an important team event this week. It will be interesting for me to cover the position of captain thus experimenting with something different.
We have a very talented team and I'm sure they will be beautiful days", Molinari declared. Who will be able to count, in addition to Migliozzi, on the Belgians Thomas Detry and Thomas Pieters, on the Pole Adrian Meronk, on the Dane Nicolai Hojgaard (who replaces his brother Rasmus on the field, forced to withdraw due to an injury), on the French Victor Perez and Antoine Rozner, on the Swede Alex Noren and on the Austrian Sepp Straka.
With Fleetwood, who like Molinari will play the double role of captain-player, there will instead be: Ewen Ferguson, Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Matt Wallace, Callum Shinkwin, Robert MacIntyre, Seamus Power, Jordan Smith and Richard Mansell.
The European big names are missing, from Rory McIlroy (number 1 in the world) to Jon Rahm, from Matt Fitzpatrick to Viktor Hovland, who already seem certain of a place for the 2023 Ryder Cup. Some controversy, however, due to the absence by the Spanish Adrian Otaegui, who played four events of the LIV Golf, the Arab Super League in contrast with the main world circuits (the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour).
The Hero Cup competition format is similar to that of Ryder. However, this time there will be a total of 25 points up for grabs (each single draw is worth 0.5 points and each success one point). The first day, scheduled for Friday 13 January, includes a session of five fourballs matches (everyone plays his ball).
While the second, Saturday 14, two rounds (five matches in the morning and as many in the afternoon) foursomes (players take turns on the same ball). On Sunday 15th the ten singles matches will be played. For what represents a general rehearsal, for the Europeans, of the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup.