The Team Cup is set to return in 2025 for its second edition, featuring teams from Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland competing over three days.
Starting on January 10 at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort, the captains have been announced. Francesco Molinari will lead Continental Europe, while Justin Rose will captain Great Britain & Ireland.
This will be Molinari’s second time as captain after leading his team to victory last year. For Rose, it’s his first time taking on this role, succeeding Tommy Fleetwood.
Team Cup and Ryder Cup Preparation:
The Team Cup provides players with a chance to gain experience in team match play golf ahead of the Ryder Cup. Luke Donald sees it as an opportunity to scout potential players for the upcoming Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black next September.
Donald expressed his enthusiasm: “I’m really pleased that the Team Cup is returning as it provided some invaluable experience for a lot of players last year. I think all of us got a lot out of the week in terms of experiencing the uniqueness of a team environment.”
Fans might find this news exciting because it showcases emerging talents and seasoned pros working together.
“It also helped everyone involved understand through past Ryder Cup captains who came and spoke to the players during the event just what it means to represent Europe in the Ryder Cup,” Donald added.
On choosing Molinari and Rose as captains, Donald said: “I am delighted that Francesco and Justin will assume the role of captains. We saw what Francesco was capable of when he led Continental Europe to a great victory in 2023 and Justin was inspirational both inside and outside the ropes at Marco Simone last year. I’m excited to see them go head-to-head.”
Molinari shared his excitement about being captain again: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to captain Continental Europe again and try successfully defend the Team Cup. It was a really special week in 2023 seeing players from so many different countries across the Continent working towards one single goal.”
Rose also expressed his enthusiasm: “There is so much exciting talent from Great Britain and Ireland on the DP World Tour right now – it will be great to have the chance to try and mould them into a winning team.”
Teams are selected based on their rankings from 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings, with additional picks made by captains with input from Donald. The format includes fourball sessions on Friday, two foursome sessions on Saturday, and singles matches on Sunday—all worth points towards determining the winner.
What do you think about these new captains?
