ABU DHABI: Team Cup captains and Major champions Francesco Molinari and Justin Rose are both seeking success at the second edition of the event next year in Abu Dhabi.
The competition from Jan. 10 to 12 follows a thrilling competition in 2023 when Molinari captained Continental Europe to a 14.5-10.5 victory over a Tommy Fleetwood-led Great Britain & Ireland.
As a warm-up event ahead of the Ryder Cup, which will be hosted at New York’s Bethpage Black in September 2025, the Team Cup, formerly known as the Hero Cup, will feature a mix of high-profile, established stars alongside some of Europe’s brightest emerging talents.
A three-time Ryder Cup winner, Molinari is relishing returning for a tournament he believes is hugely important when taking the bigger picture into account.
“It was a great experience two years ago and I was very happy when Luke (Donald, European captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup) asked me to do it again,” said the Italian.
“It’s a fun, competitive week. Obviously, we want to play well and win, but it’s all under the umbrella of the European Ryder Cup team.
“There are various elements to it, seeing how some of the younger guys deal with the team environment, and the different responsibilities which come with playing for a team and not just yourself.
“I’m sure it’s going to be useful for Luke and the European team to prepare for Bethpage Black, hopefully it will kickstart a successful year for all of us.”
Although Molinari inspired his team to Hero Cup glory in 2023, there are no guarantees his leadership style will remain the same. “I think I did a pretty good job but there is stuff I might change,” he added.
“It depends a lot on what type of players you get. If you have players with more experience, or less experience, it’s something you need to take into consideration.
“You know me, I’m not too flashy, I just try to put the guys in the best condition possible to perform. A big part of the week is to try and form some bonds which you carry through the year and into the Ryder Cup.”
Rose, meanwhile, will be skippering a team for the first time and the Brit, a four-time Ryder Cup winner, having competed in the event on six occasions, is looking forward to pitting his wits against a player he holds in the highest regard.
“It’s going to be an awesome experience,” he said. “I’ve paid attention to the tournament the last couple of times around, and obviously I know Tommy (Fleetwood) did a great job with the team in 2023.
“These lads are all competitive and everybody wants to win, but it’s about creating that camaraderie and environment which frees everybody up to get the best out of themselves.
“I’m going to take a little bit of what works for me and blend it into the team, but you have to realize you’re dealing with a bunch of different characters. For me, it’s going to be the biggest learning curve.”
Having played as team-mates during Europe’s Ryder Cup triumphs in both 2012 and 2018, Molinari and Rose know all about each other’s strengths.
“We’ve shared some great moments together as team-mates in the Ryder Cup,” said Molinari.
“We’ve been around a long time, we’ve played against each other, but also together a few times. Justin is a friend, a great role model for me and our generation. He is still performing at a very high level and I’m looking forward to playing against him.”
Rose was equally complimentary about his opposite number, while also stressing his desire to come out on top when their teams collide in January.
“Fran is a hard guy to go up against,” said Rose. “You never root against him because he’s been such a class guy on the Tour for many years, so there’s no extra needle to it. But obviously you’re going out there to do a job.
“Fran’s a true professional and I like to think of myself as being similar, so may the best team win. I’m just excited to try and inspire a team to go out and put in a great performance.”
In addition to Molinari and Rose, the teams will comprise the leading four available Continental European and Great Britain & Ireland members from the final 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings.
The five remaining players on each side will be selected by the respective captains in consultation with Donald.
