The Team Cup sees two ten-man teams representing Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland contest a three-day match play competition in Abu Dhabi on the DP world Tour.

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:

Background: The Team Cup (formerly the Hero Cup) was first played in January 2023, where Continental Europe, led by Francesco Molinari, defeated Great Britain & Ireland (captained by Tommy Fleetwood) 14½–10½. The format involves match play across fourball, foursomes, and singles matches over three days. Each player competes in all four sessions, and the team that reaches 13 points first wins. In case of a tie, a hole-by-hole foursome playoff decides the winner.

Captains: Francesco Molinari returns as the captain of Continental Europe, facing Justin Rose, the new captain of Great Britain & Ireland.

Teams: The 2025 competition features a mix of Ryder Cup veterans and emerging talents. Molinari’s team includes European players like Nicolai Højgaard, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, and Matthieu Pavon. Rose’s team has Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Matt Wallace, and rising stars like Jordan Smith and Aaron Rai. A total of 13 players will make their debuts.

Continental Europe

Francesco MOLINARI (C)

Nicolai HØJGAARD

Rasmus HØJGAARD

Romain LANGASQUE

Matteo MANASSERO

Rasmus NEERGAARD-PETERSEN

Niklas NØRGAARD

Thorbjørn OLESEN

Matthieu PAVON

Antoine ROZNER

Great Britain & Ireland

Justin ROSE (C)

Laurie CANTER

Tommy FLEETWOOD

Tyrrell HATTON

Matthew JORDAN

Tom MCKIBBIN

Aaron RAI

Jordan SMITH

Matt WALLACE

Paul WARING

Update: Watch Tom McKibbin shut down rumours on move to LIV Golf

Venue: The National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort will host the event. The 7,648-yard, par-72 course has hosted the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship many times and is known for its challenging layout with plenty of water hazards. The course is set to play slightly longer than in 2023.

Format:

  • Fourballs: Two-man teams play their own ball, with the best score on each hole counting for the team.
  • Foursomes: Two-man teams alternate shots, with one player hitting the odd holes and the other the even ones.
  • Singles: Each player competes individually against an opponent from the other team.

Each match is worth one point, with ties worth ½ point. The first team to 13 points wins the trophy, and in case of a tie, a foursome hole-by-hole playoff is used to determine the winner.

The event serves as a warm-up for the Ryder Cup in September, offering players a chance to showcase their skills in front of European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald, who will be overseeing the competition.

Main Image: Team Cup