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Fleetwood and Molinari the captains for Europe's Ryder Cup warm-up

The Hero Cup will take place between two teams of 10, with Fleetwood leading Great Britain and Ireland against a Continental Europe side skippered by Italy’s Molinari.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD and Francesco Molinari were named as playing captains for a new team matchplay competition aimed at boosting Europe’s bid to regain the Ryder Cup.

The Hero Cup will take place in Abu Dhabi from January 13-15 between two teams of 10, with England’s Fleetwood leading Great Britain and Ireland against a Continental Europe side skippered by Italy’s 2018 British Open champion Molinari.

The tournament will feature foursomes, fourballs and singles matches, with all 20 players taking part in each session in an event overseen by Luke Donald, the captain of the Europe team at next year’s Ryder Cup in Italy.

Molinari and Fleetwood won all four of their matches together in the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris as Europe won the trophy.

But the most recent edition of the biennial event, the Covid-delayed 2021 competition, saw the United States thrash Europe 19 points to nine at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

The Hero Cup effectively replaces the Seve Cup, a similar competition, which was held eight times from 2000-2013.

Molinari welcomed the new event by saying in a statement: “The Hero Cup is a great idea and will be a very good way for European players to get some more experience of playing in team match play. I definitely felt like it benefited me when I played in similar events in the past.

“Hopefully as captains Tommy and I can bring some of our own experience of team golf to help the other players and we are looking forward to working with Luke on this exciting new concept ahead of a big year for European golf with the Ryder Cup taking place in my home country.”

Fleetwood added: “Fran and I obviously get on very well so I am sure it will feel a little strange at first being opposing captains, but I think the Hero Cup is a fantastic way for players to compete in team match play, which is something both of us have always relished.”

The two teams will be confirmed following the conclusion of the 2022 DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November, with DP tour rankings taken into account in the selection process.

The DP World Tour was previously known as the European Tour.

Next year’s Ryder Cup takes place in Rome from September 29 to October 1.

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    Jan 3rd 2015, 9:02 AM

    People who scream & grunt too loudly.

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    Jan 3rd 2015, 9:28 AM

    People who just slam the weights to the ground so we can all see and hear what a big load they did

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    Jan 3rd 2015, 9:29 AM

    Oh and the f**kers who take selfies. . .

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    Jan 3rd 2015, 10:39 AM

    Cpt Hernia, I totally agree about the selfies. There is a Russian gear head in my gym that wears short shorts and a string vest and constantly takes pics of himself posing. A total t1t.

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    Jan 3rd 2015, 5:11 PM

    If you can’t put it down, don’t pick it up

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    Jan 3rd 2015, 12:28 PM

    The selfie people are the worst,they go in for ten minutes post a selfie on say Instagram or snapchat and leave.

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    Jan 3rd 2015, 9:32 AM

    Unsatisfied with this list, I have decided to submit my own, more realistic, more universal list.

    One: People who expose themselves in the steam room for comic effect.
    Three: People who judge you for leaving your twelve month old in the car while you work (serious baby weight)
    Four: People who scream obscenities while on the rowing machine
    Five: People who think they are better than me, and me dah and his partner Philippe.
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    Ehh two comes after one and six comes after five fellah

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    Jan 3rd 2015, 2:53 PM

    The guys who stand around talking with their friends, hogging like 2 or 3 benches or machines, sending texts in between sets, chatting about what girl they were with last night and a different one the week before, you’re there to work, so work, rant over :)

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    Jan 3rd 2015, 10:41 AM

    How is critiquing form looking down on someone? I see no problem with someone pointing out an error in your movement, if they know what they’re talking about. People need to stop being so sensitive, man up, and accept when you’re doing something the wrong way; the people giving advice are only trying to help you out, and if you’re a ‘noob’, it’s good to talk to someone who’s more experienced at this than you are.

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