Great Britain and Ireland are closing in on an emphatic Team Cup victory over continental Europe after taking an 11-4 lead on the final day of the Ryder Cup-style event in Abu Dhabi.
The team’s competitions will be held as part of the preparations for the Ryder Cup Championship in Bethpage Black next September. Live on Sky Sports, With Luke Donald on site to support captain Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari.
The Roses held a two-point advantage after fours on Friday at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and doubled their lead after taking 3.5 points in fours on Saturday morning, before moving closer to victory by winning the afternoon session.
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Matt Wallace hits a powerful putt to win the hole and tie alongside Tyrrell Hatton – with an air guitar to celebrate!
Tyrrell Hatton continued his unbeaten start to the tournament by partnering Matt Wallace to win the first match, with GB and Ireland winning three of the other four matches – in another one-sided session – to continue their dominance.
Britain and Ireland need just two points from 10 singles matches on the final day of the biennial title, while continental Europe – holders of the title after a successful 2023 – look set for a heavy defeat despite Matteo Pavon and Roman Langaski winning all three matches. . Their matches together.
Great Britain and Ireland are close to a certain victory
Hatton and Wallace grabbed the early lead in the first game but fell behind when the European Continental pair made back-to-back birdies from the seventh, only for Hatton to roll in a 15-foot putt to tie the match at the ninth.
Wallace holed out on the par-5 10th and holed out from eight feet to win his third hole in a row, with enough to get the 13th hole before a closing win over Rasmus Hougaard and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen with two holes to go.
Tyrrell Hatton won his match alongside Matt Wallace to help Britain and Ireland extend their Cup lead
“That was big for us,” Hatton said. “Every game is tough but it was embarrassing to play well this morning and continue to do so in the afternoon. We were a bit sloppy at times, but in the end, it was massive for us.”
Matthew Jordan and Tom McBain came back from three goals down to claim a hat-trick and snatch a one-up win over Olesen and Norgaard, while Tommy Fleetwood and Jordan Smith dispatched Molinari and Julian Guerrier 3&2.
Tommy Fleetwood has taken 2.5 points from his three appearances for Great Britain and Ireland
“It was an amazing finish,” McKibben said. “We struggled a little bit there but we gave it our all and gave it everything we had until the last hole and fortunately it paid off.”
The biggest win of the tournament came when Paul Waring and Lauri Kanter thrashed Antoine Rosner and Matteo Manassero 6 & 4, and the only point for continental Europe came when Pavon and Langesque continued their unbeaten run with a 4 & 2 win over Rose and Aaron Ray.
“This is probably the best I’ve played yet with Lori [Canter] “It was good, too,” Waring said. “Both of us were clinical and took quality shots.”
What happened earlier today?
Great Britain and Ireland won three and drew one of the five matches in the fog-delayed morning session, which started 35 minutes later than scheduled, as the Roses took a 7-3 lead and took control of the match.
Rose and Tommy Fleetwood finished with a 2up win over Molinari and Julian Guerrier, after watching Hatton hole out an eagle on the final hole to snatch a half point for himself and Wallace against Thorbjörn Olesen and Niklas Norgaard.
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Tyrrell Hatton scores a shot from over 60 feet to qualify for fifth place and earn half a point for his match alongside teammate Matt Wallace in the Team Cup
Aaron Ray and Tom McKibben demolished Nicolai Hougaard and Rasmus Nygaard-Petersen 4&3, while Paul Waring and Matthew Jordan claimed the biggest win of the session by dispatching Matteo Manasero and Antoine Rosner 5&3.
Continental Europe’s only full point came in the bottom leg, where French duo Pavon and Langesque defeated Jordan Smith and Lauri Kanter 3&2, with Molinari’s side picking up just 1.5 points for the second session in a row.
What happens on Sunday?
All 20 players will once again participate in singles matches on Sunday, which starts at 10.35am local time (6.35am GMT) with matches played every nine minutes.
Sunday’s singles draw to follow…
Can continental Europe achieve a historic comeback in the Team Cup? Watch the final day live on Sunday from 6.30am on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and more now.
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