Fleetwood, Hatton Lead GB&I to Dominant 17-8 Victory in Team Cup Test Event
Great Britain & Ireland secured a dominant 17-8 victory over Continental Europe at the 2025 Team Cup in Abu Dhabi, with Tommy Fleetwood clinching the winning point.
Entering Sunday's singles matches with an 11-4 lead after dominating Saturday's foursomes 7.5-2.5, GB&I needed just two points for victory. The team, featuring nine English players and one Northern Irishman, quickly took control of the majority of matches.
Two smiling golfers at tournament
Laurie Canter secured GB&I's first point on Sunday with a 5&4 win over Romain Langasque. Tommy Fleetwood then sealed the overall victory on the 16th hole against Matthieu Pavon, shortly followed by Tyrrell Hatton's 3&1 win over Thorbjorn Olesen.
Playing captain Justin Rose contributed to the victory by defeating Julien Guerrier on the 16th hole. Rose praised his team's preparation and commitment, noting that "every player has come out with no complacency."
Continental Europe managed some late consolation wins, with Niklas Norgaard defeating Matthew Jordan 3&2 and Antoine Rozner beating Matt Wallace 1up. The final matches saw Matteo Manassero defeat Tom McKibbin, while captain Francesco Molinari halved with Jordan Smith. Rasmus Hojgaard staged a late comeback to share points with Aaron Rai.
Fleetwood, who also secured the crucial point at the 2023 Ryder Cup, expressed his joy: "What an unbelievable group of lads we had again and an unbelievable captain. It was a pleasure to be a part of it, and everybody just played so well."
This comprehensive victory serves as valuable preparation for both teams ahead of future international competitions, particularly the Ryder Cup.