Continental Europe received the primary two matches of the day earlier than securing a slim 3-2 lead over Nice Britain and Eire in opposition to after the opening session of fourballs matches on the Hero Cup, a brand new workforce matchplay match that’s being held at Abu Dhabi Golf Membership this week.
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Belgium’s Thomas Pieters and Swede Alex Noren defeated GB&I Captain Tommy Fleetwood and Eire’s Shane Lowry 1up in an exhilarating opening conflict at Abu Dhabi Golf Membership.
The Continental Europe pairing have been 3up on the flip earlier than Fleetwood and Lowry fought again to all sq. via 15 holes, however Noren – a person with a historical past of holing necessary putts on the ultimate gap – rolled in a birdie on the 18th to safe the primary level for his facet.
Belgian Thomas Detry and France’s Antoine Rozner have been two down in opposition to English duo Tyrrell Hatton and Jordan Smith after 4 holes, however recovered nicely to safe a 2up victory, with Detry ending in a method with an eagle on the final to rejoice his thirtieth birthday.
Italy’s Guido Migliozzi and Frenchman Victor Perez, representing Continental Europe, secured a half in opposition to the second all-English pairing of Callum Shinkwin and Matt Wallace in a match of top quality, whereas Robert MacIntyre and Séamus Energy secured the most important margin of victory on day one, defeating Poland’s Adrian Meronk and Austrian Sepp Straka 4&3 to earn GB&I’s first profitable level.
With the ultimate match ending after 15 holes, it was left to Continental Europe Captain Francesco Molinari and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard to attempt to prolong their workforce’s lead, nevertheless Richard Mansell matched Højgaard’s closing birdie to make sure the Englishman and Scotland’s Ewen Ferguson closed day one with a half.
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Tommy Fleetwood mentioned: “I feel it was a superb workforce efficiency on the primary day. I do know we might beloved to have completed the day and been the appropriate facet of the scoreboard and been up. Unbelievable actually that 4 matches go down the final. Simply exhibits how shut the groups are by way of ranges.
“I feel in the long run, to get out of that session 3-2, we’ll undoubtedly return to our workforce rooms feeling the higher, and the blokes, I simply mentioned to the blokes, that’s why these guys are on the again, belief them to get one thing out of it on the final and be very robust coming down that final gap.”
Francesco Molinari added “I’m actually comfortable and happy with how we began immediately. I feel clearly a variety of tight matches which is sweet for Luke [Donald] and his Ryder Cup vice captains to see. My guys did wonderful. Clearly it’s a pleasant begin, lengthy solution to go however it’s all the time good profitable a day, profitable a session.”
To see all of the scores and a stay leaderboard from the Hero Cup, click on right here.