The DP World Tour has today confirmed that Grand Slam champions Francesco Molinari and Justin Rose have been named tournament captains for the second edition of the Team Cup, which will be held at the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort from January 10-12, 2025.
Molinari, who captained continental Europe to victory two years ago, will go head-to-head with his Ryder Cup teammate Rose, who is captaining the Great Britain and Ireland team for the first time.
The pair will each lead a team of ten DP World Tour members for the three-day match play event, with Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald also hosting the event in the United Arab Emirates, as he did in 2023.
In addition to Molinari and Ross, the team will include the top four members of Continental Europe and the United Kingdom and Ireland from the final Race to Dubai 2024 standings, with the remaining five players from both sides to be chosen by their respective captains in consultation with Donald.
Donald, who will lead Europe in its second Ryder Cup appearance at Bethpage Black next year, said: “I’m delighted that the Team Cup is back as it provided a valuable experience for so many players last year. I think we all gained a lot over the week, experiencing the uniqueness of a team environment. With former Ryder Cup captains speaking to the players during the tournament, it also helped all involved understand what it means to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup.
“I'm delighted that Francesco and Justin will be captaining the side. We saw what Francesco is capable of when he led the continent to great victory in 2023, while Justin was inspirational on and off the field for Marco Simeone last year. I'm excited to see them go head to head.”
Molinari, captain of the Continental team, said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to captain the Continental team again and to try to successfully defend the Team Cup. This week in 2023 will be really special and it will be great to see players from different countries across the continent working towards the same goal. I have a lot of respect for Justin, he is a great competitor and it will be a challenge to play against him and his team and I will really enjoy it.”
Great Britain and Ireland captain Ross said: “It will be strange to play against Fran in match play rather than alongside him but it is something I am really looking forward to, although I know it will be tough because Fran has such a great history not only in this tournament but also in the Ryder Cup. But there is so much talent from the UK and Ireland on the DP World Tour at the moment – it will be great to have the chance to try and mould them into a winning team.”
I'm glad the Team Cup is back as it provided valuable experience for a lot of the players last year. I think we all had a great week and got to experience the uniqueness of the team environment. – Luke Donald
As in 2023, teams will play one four-ball match on Friday, two four-ball matches on Saturday and one singles match on Sunday, with each player playing in all four matches. Each match counts for one point, and the team with more than 12.5 points wins the team cup.
The Team Cup (formerly known as the Hero Cup) was held for the first time in January 2023, with the Continental team led by Molinari defeating the British and Irish team led by Tommy Fleetwood 14½ -10½. The players who participated in that match and represented Europe in the Ryder Cup last year were: Nicola Hoggard and Sepp Straka (Continental Team) and Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre (British and Irish Team).
Abu Dhabi Sports Council once again becomes the official partner of the tournament, in addition to supporting the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, reaffirming its commitment to golf in the region.
Fans can now register for free general admission to the event, with premium experience options also available. The Championship Village will feature an array of activities for all the family, including food outlets, picnic areas and live entertainment.
For those who wish to extend their day at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort, we also offer a Premium Experience option. Guests can enjoy five-star dining in a relaxed setting, either in the air-conditioned clubhouse or on the shaded viewing terrace. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea are also available in addition to a hops, cereals and soft drinks package.
For more information on General Admission and Premium Experience tickets, click here.
