Continental Europe, led by Francesco Molinari, lifted the Hero Cup high by defeating Great Britain and Ireland in their first competition on Sunday.
Now he wants to return to golf’s bigger team event, the Ryder Cup in his native Italy later this year.
“It’s a big motivation for me.
“[The Ryder Cup] With so much golf to play, you need to focus on your game. This is much better than before. Being in Rome is incredible. “
Molinari took the lead from the front in Abu Dhabi, scoring 3.5 points for the week and tied for most in four sessions. He also set the stage in Sunday’s singles by beating Shane Lowry, the highest-ranked player in the event. Won the first match 3&2.
Continental Europe led 8.5-6.5 and won the singles 6-4, with Adrian Melonck scoring a clinch point with a 25-foot putt on the 18th. It was the Polish player’s only game of the week.
With the renewal of the tournament, formerly known as the Seve Trophy, European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald thinks many veterans like Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia are likely to be in action And got the opportunity to evaluate a new generation of players. They will be absent from Rome as they play in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League.
Donald is well aware that 40-year-old Molinari is a major champion and European Ryder Cup star who won outside Paris in 2018 with Tommy Fleetwood as an inseparable duo. increase.
Since then, Molinari’s form has plummeted, falling outside the top 200 in the world, but he believes he’s back.
Donald will learn more about another Italian, 25-year-old Guido Migliozzi, and other young players.
After Molinari’s victory over Lowry, Perez beat Jordan Smith 4&2, Hougaard beat Sheamus Power 1-up and Migliozzi beat Richard Mansell 4&3 in the previous match.
Melonck’s one-up win over Callum Sinkwin put Continental Europe over the 13 points needed to win.
“I would say that European golf is in very good shape,” Molinari said.
McIntyre is developing as a future star of European golf and beat Alex Noren 5&3 to end a good week for Scott. Fleetwood won his 3&2 victory over Thomas Peters in the second match and spent the rest of the afternoon supporting his teammates at his golf club in Abu Dhabi.
At the trophy presentation, Fleetwood said with a smile that he had “clenched his teeth” and celebrated the European continent, trying to see the big picture.
“Nearly two years ago in September, we first talked about the opportunity to play more team golf and the opportunity to do so.
“The passion and competitiveness from all of us just came out.”
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