The Team Cup (previously known as the Hero Cup for sponsorship reasons) is a golf tournament between teams of professional male golfers; one team representing Great Britain and Ireland, the other team representing Continental Europe. The tournament was first played in 2023, but the competition is reminiscent of the Seve Trophy which was held eight times between 2000 and 2013.[1]
 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Established | 2023 |
| Course(s) | Abu Dhabi Golf Club |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,642 yards (6,988 m) |
| Tour(s) | European Tour (unofficial event) |
| Format | Match play |
| Prize fund | €2,000,000 |
| Month played | January |
| Current champion | |
 Continental Europe | |
| Location map | |
  Abu Dhabi GC Location in the United Arab Emirates | |
For the tournament's first iteration, a sponsorship deal was reached with the Indian two-wheeler manufacturers Hero MotoCorp.[2] Members of the winning European team each earned US$125,000, with those on the losing GB&I team each receiving US$75,000.[3]
Schedule
editThe event is an "approved special event" on the European Tour. The prize money does not count towards the Race to Dubai (previously the Order of Merit).
The 2023 event was the first. After Luke Donald was appointed as Ryder Cup Captain, he was keen to reinstate a team match play contest to give playing and leadership experience to future Ryder Cup players, vice-captains and captains.[2]
Format
editThe Team Cup is a team event for professional male golfers; one team representing Great Britain and Ireland, the other team representing Continental Europe.
The cup is contested over three days (Friday to Sunday) and consists of one session of foursomes matches, two sessions of fourball matches and one session of singles matches, with all 20 players taking part in each session.[3]
Team qualification and selection
editTwo playing captains were chosen by the European Tour.
Eligibility for the event is similar that of the European team in the Ryder Cup. Players have to be European and be a member of the European Tour.
In the inaugural tournament, all players were "captain's picks", players chosen at the discretion of Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald in consultation with the team captains.[3]
Results
edit| Year | Winners | Score | GB&I captain | Europe captain | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Continental Europe |
141⁄2–101⁄2 | Tommy Fleetwood | Francesco Molinari | Abu Dhabi Golf Club, UAE |
Appearances
editThe following are those selected to play in at least one of the matches.[4][5]
Great Britain and Ireland
edit- 2023
Continental Europe
edit- 2023
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Hero Cup: Team GB and Ireland to play Continental Europe to give Ryder Cup hopefuls team match play experience". Sky Sports. 7 September 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Hero Cup to take place in Abu Dhabi". European Tour. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ a b c "Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari named Captains for new Hero Cup". European Tour. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ "Teams unveiled for Hero Cup in Abu Dhabi". European Tour. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ "Hero Cup: Luke Donald names line-ups as Great Britain and Ireland face Continental Europe". Sky Sports. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.