- Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland to face off this weekend as a warm up for the Ryder Cup later this year.
- Golf major champions and teammates Francesco Molinari and Justin Rose to lead the two ten-man teams in an exciting three day showdown at Abu Dhabi Golf Course
- Fans can enjoy free General Admission, Team Social package, live entertainment, Trick shot shows and ‘Get into Golf’ sessions each day
Francesco Molinari will lead his side’s defence of the Team Cup when his Continental European side take on Great Britain & Ireland this week at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort.
The Italian, who famously became his nation’s first Major Champion when he triumphed at The Open in 2019, captained his team to a 14½ – 10½ victory over GB&I, contributing three and a half points to the cause.
He takes on fellow Major Champion and Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose, who assumes the role of GB&I Captain, in the event which serves as an important part of Europe’s Ryder Cup preparations ahead of this year’s contest at Bethpage in New York.
The two ten-man teams comprise of four Ryder Cup players in Molinari, Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton, and a combined 69 DP World Tour titles competing across three days of match play. Friday will feature one fourballs session, with two foursomes session on Saturday and the final singles session on Sunday, with each player competing in every session.
Rose will play in the first match of the first session alongside five-time DP World Tour winner Matt Wallace against the French pair of Romain Langasque, who won the Amateur Championship in 2015, and Matthieu Pavon, who became the first Frenchman in more than 100 years to win on the PGA TOUR last season.
Five time DP World Tour winner Rasmus Højgaard, who missed the 2023 edition of this event due to injury, will partner last year’s Challenge Tour Road to Mallorca Rankings winner Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen against the English pair of Laurie Canter and Jordan Smith. Smith, who has won twice on the DP World Tour, is also a former Challenge Tour Rankings winner, while Canter claimed his maiden title last season at the European Open.
Julien Guerrier, who has been drafted in as a replacement for Nicolai Højgaard, who has been forced to withdraw from the Team Cup due to illness, will tee it up alongside his French compatriot Antoine Rozner. Guerrier won his maiden DP World Tour title at last year’s Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, while Rozner is a three-time DP World Tour winner.
They are pitted against three-time Ryder Cup player Tyrrell Hatton and Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin, who won the Porsche European Open in 2023.
The Danish pair of eight-time DP World Tour winner and 2018 Ryder Cup player Thorbjørn Olesen and last year’s Betfred British Masters champion Niklas Nørgaard, will take on Matthew Jordan and Paul Waring. Waring claimed a second DP World Tour victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last season, while Jordan is competing in his first professional match play event, having represented GB&I at the Walker Cup in 2017.
Molinari will tee off in the anchor match alongside compatriot Matteo Manassero against Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai. Molinari and Fleetwood famously won four matches from four together at the 2018 Ryder Cup, earning the nickname ‘Moliwood’ as they contributed to Europe’s victory at Le Golf National. Manassero ended a near 11-year wait between titles as he returned to the winner’s circle at the Jonsson Workwear Open last year, while Rai claimed a maiden PGA TOUR title at the Wyndham Championship.
Team Cup Foursomes Schedule
| Match 1 11:05 | Romain Langasque, Mattieu Pavon | vs | Justin Rose, Matt Wallace |
| Match 2 11:20 | Rasmus Højgaard, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen | vs | Jordan Smith, Laurie Canter |
| Match 3 11:35 | Antoine Rozner, Julien Guerrier | vs | Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin |
| Match 4 11:50 | Thorbjørn Olesen, Niklas Nørgaard | vs | Matthew Jordan, Paul Waring |
| Match 5 12:05 | Francesco Molinari, Matteo Manassero | vs | Tommy Fleetwood, Aaron Rai |
Player Quotes
Francesco Molinari: “I think that the experience from two years ago is going to come in handy. I think a lot of the stuff that we did worked. I think obviously we were lucky to get the support from my brother and the other past Ryder Cup captains. It wasn’t like I had to create anything new.
“Compared to two years ago, it’s a little bit different because we only have three nationalities, really, in our team. So on one hand, it should be easier, probably, to get some of the guys to gel but at the same time, you don’t want to have three groups of people not gelling with each other. It’s interesting. The team dynamics always fascinated me. I’m a huge football field, so always dreamt of being a football player and a football manager. This is probably as close as it gets to being a football manager.
“I’m sure Justin is going to do a really good job. He’s a meticulous player and I’m sure he’s going to have the same approach when it comes down to his captaincy.”
Justin Rose: “It’s a honour, first and foremost. I think it’s been something that’s sort of been on my mind. Because obviously sometimes you play as a player, you’re obviously preparing all the time for tournaments that come up.
“But when you have something like this looming large, you start thinking about it months in advance. What do I want to say? Are there any good ideas I have? What have I learned from previous captains? I feel like it’s been a very big responsibility in my head for a number of months now and I think it’s going well.
“I think obviously once you get here on site, you see the players and you start to get more comfortable with the whole thing. But very different. Out of my comfort zone for sure but that’s always good to challenge yourself.”
Alongside general play, there will be a host of activities across all three days of the event for fans to enjoy. The entertainment kicks off on Friday (January 10) with the hugely popular Irish singer Rory McGettigan. On Saturday (January 11), Shades of Jade will take the stage, delivering a dynamic blend of jazz, pop, funk, and party classics. The final day (January 12) will feature singer-guitarist The Dazzler, who will close out the event with his signature singalongs, following the crowning of the champion on the 18th green
There will be a special Ryder Cup Trophy activation in the Village, where fans can take photos with one of the most famous trophies in sport. Trick shot shows, a kids’ zone, and ‘Get into Golf’ sessions will also be available each day.
Parking is available onsite for fans. For those attending the Coldplay concerts in Zayed Sport City Stadium and are looking to make the most of their afternoon, the park and ride at ‘Sas Al Nakhl’ is located right beside Abu Dhabi Golf Resort.
Friday 10th January 2025:
- 09:00: Gates Open (Free caps and flags to the first 100 ticket holders on the 1st tee!*)
- 10:00: Hospitality Opens
- 10:00 – 18:00: Get into Golf (Driving Range)
- 11:05 – 12:05: Fourballs (1st Tee)
- 12:30 – 16:30: Ryder Cup Trophy Activation (Spectator Village)
- 13:00: Trick shot Show (Driving Range)
- 14:00: Trick shot show (Driving Range)
- 16:30: Live Music from Rory McGettigan (Public Terrace)
- 20:00: Bar Closes
- 20:30: Spectator Village and Venue Closes
Saturday 11th January 2025:
- 07:00: Gates Open (Free caps and flags to the first 100 ticket holders on the 1st tee!*)
- 07:35 – 08:15: Morning Foursomes (1st Tee)
- 10:00: Hospitality Opens
- 09:00 – 18:00: Get into Golf (Driving Range)
- 08:30 – 12:00: Ryder Cup Trophy Activation (Spectator Village)
- 10:00: Trick shot Show (Driving Range)
- 12:20 – 13:00: Afternoon Foursomes (1st Tee)
- 14:30: Trick shot Show (Driving Range)
- 16:30: Live Music from Shades of Jade (Public Terrace)
- 20:00: Bar Closes
- 20:30: Spectator Village and Venue Closes
Sunday 12th January 2025:
- 09:00: Gates Open (Free caps and flags to the first 100 ticket holders on the 1st tee!*)
- 10:00 – 18:00: Get into Golf (Driving Range)
- 10:00: Hospitality Opens
- 10:35 – 12:05: Sunday Singles (1st Tee)
- 12:30 – 15:30: Ryder Cup Trophy Activation (Spectator Village)
- 13:00: Trick shot Show (Driving Range)
- 16:00: Championship Prize Giving (9th Green)
- 16:30: Live Music from The Dazzler (Public Terrace)
- 20:00: Bar Closes
- 20:30: Spectator Village and Venue Closes
*Terms & Conditions Apply, subject to availability.
Other activities to enjoy in the Spectator Village:
- Big screens to watch all the action unfold
- Kids Zone: Including bouncy castles, crazy golf, arts & crafts, balloon artist, face painting and bubble artist.
- Future Falcons zone including chipping challenge and golf lessons
- DJ Damien every day from 1.30pm – 4.30pm on Clubhouse terrace
About the DP World Tour
The DP World Tour is the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group.
Our 2025 global schedule features a minimum of 42 tournaments in 26 different countries across three distinct phases of the season: five ‘Global Swings’ from November 2024 to August 2025; the ‘Back 9’ from August 2025 to October 2025; and the ‘DP World Tour Play-Offs’, comprising two consecutive Rolex Series events in November 2025.
Overall, the 2025 season features five Rolex Series events – the premium category of events on the DP World Tour – and four Major Championships, all of which count towards the Race to Dubai Rankings, the Tour’s season-long competition which concludes at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
DP World, the leading provider of global smart end-to-end supply chain and logistics solutions, has been the title partner of the DP World Tour since the start of the 2022 season, the Tour’s 50th season following its formation in 1972.
About the European Tour group
The European Tour group is the overarching corporate brand which administers: the DP World Tour, the Challenge Tour, the Legends Tour and the G4D Tour and, along with the PGA of America, is the Managing Partner of golf’s greatest team contest, the Ryder Cup.
Established in 1972, the European Tour group is committed to ‘Driving Golf Further’ through our guiding principles of being innovative, inclusive and global.
Innovative: We are driving innovation in golf through the creation of award-winning content, pioneering tournament formats and the use of the latest technology and inventive fan engagement. We are committed to attracting new audiences whilst respecting the tradition of our sport.
Inclusive: We are committed to include all who share a love for the game of golf. We are passionate about a closer collaboration with the women’s game, golf for the disabled and promoting the many physical and mental health benefits of playing golf.
Global: Since 1972, players from 38 different countries have won tournaments on our main Tour, while our live broadcast reaches more than 490 million homes in more than 150 countries every week, generating in excess of 2,200 global broadcast hours for each event. We also enjoy the support of many of the world’s leading business brands with DP World, Rolex, BMW, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Emirates, Fortinet and Hilton as Official Partners.
The European Tour group has Strategic Alliances with the PGA TOUR, the Sunshine Tour and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. Those Strategic Alliances, combined with partnerships with the China Golf Association (CGA), Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), the Korea Professional Golfers’ Association (KPGA), and the TATA Steel Professional Golf Tour of India, provide global pathways for players from across the world to compete internationally on the DP World Tour, the main men’s professional golf Tour of the European Tour group.
We ensure we have a positive long-term impact on the courses, countries and the communities we visit through ‘Golf for Good’, the umbrella name for the European Tour group’s commitment to ‘Driving Golf Further’ in an environmentally and socially sustainable way.
