Great Britain and Ireland are closing in on an emphatic Team Cup victory over Continental Europe after taking an 11-4 lead into the final day of the Ryder Cup-style event in Abu Dhabi.
The team event is played as part of preparations for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in September, live on Sky Sports, with Luke Donald in place to support playing captains Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari.
Rose’s side held a two-point advantage after Friday’s fourballs at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and doubled their cushion after taking 3.5 points in Saturday morning’s foursomes, before edging closer to victory by winning the afternoon session.
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Matt Wallace sinks a huge putt to win the hole and take his match with Tyrrell Hatton to a tie – with an air guitar to celebrate!
Tyrrell Hatton continued his unbeaten start to the tournament by partnering Matt Wallace to victory in the top match, with GB And Ireland winning three of the other four matches – in another one-sided session – to continue their dominance.
Great Britain and Ireland need just two points from the 10 singles matches on the final day to claim the biennial competition, while Continental Europe – the defending champions after their success in 2023 – look set for a heavy defeat despite Mathieu Pavon and Romain Langasque winning all three of their matches together.
Great Britain and Ireland close on emphatic victory
Hatton and Wallace took an early lead in the top match but fell behind when the Continental pair made consecutive birdies from the seventh, only for Hatton to roll in from 15 feet to level the match at the ninth.
Wallace chipped in on the par-five 10th and holed from eight feet to win a third hole in a row, with a par enough to take the 13th hole before closing out victories over Rasmus Hojgaard and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen with two holes remaining .
Tyrrell Hatton won his match alongside Matt Wallace to help Great Britain and Ireland extend their Team Cup lead
“It was huge for us,” Hatton said. “Every game is tough but it was difficult to play so well this morning and carry it on in the afternoon. We were a bit dull at times but in the end, around the turn that was huge for us.”
Matthew Jordan and Tom McKibbin rallied from a deficit with three to play to produce a three-birdie finish and grab a 1up victory over Olesen and Norgaard, while Tommy Fleetwood and Jordan Smith dispatched Molinari and Julien Guerrier 3&2.
Tommy Fleetwood has won 2.5 points in his three games for Great Britain and Ireland
“It was a great finish,” McKibbin said. “We both struggled a bit out there but dug in and gave it everything we had until the last hole and thankfully it paid off.”
The biggest win of the tournament came when Paul Waring and Laurie Canter beat Antoine Rozner and Matteo Manassero 6&4, with Continental Europe’s only point as Pavon and Langasque extended their unbeaten record with a 4&2 win over Rose and Aaron Rai.
“It’s probably the best I’ve played so far and Laurie (Canter) was just as good,” Waring said. “We were clinical and hit quality shots.”
What happened earlier in the day?
GB and Ireland won three and drew one of the five games in the fog-delayed morning session, which started 35 minutes later than scheduled, moving Rose’s side 7-3 ahead and in control of the contest.
Rose and Tommy Fleetwood completed a 2 up victory over Molinari and Julien Guerrier, after seeing Hatton eagle the final hole to snatch half a point for him and Wallace against Thorbjorn Olesen and Niklas Noorgard.
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Tyrrell Hatton sinks a putt from over 60 feet to eagle the par-five last and take half a point in his match with teammate Matt Wallace in the Team Cup
Aaron Rai and Tom McKibbin beat Nicolai Hojgaard and Rasmus Neegaard-Petersen 4&3, while Paul Waring and Matthew Jordan took home the biggest win of the session by dispatching Matteo Manassero and Antoine Rozner 5&3.
Continental Europe’s only points win came in the bottom game, where French duo Pavon and Langasque defeated Jordan Smith and Laurie Canter 3&2, with Molinari’s side taking just 1.5 points for the second consecutive session.
What happens on Sunday?
All 20 players will once again be involved in the Sunday singles, which start at 10.35 local time (6.35 GMT) and where the matches go out at nine minute intervals.
Sunday single draw follows…
Can Continental Europe make 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 with NOW.
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