Nice Britain and Eire are closing in on an emphatic Group Cup victory over Continental Europe after taking an 11-4 lead into the ultimate day of the Ryder Cup-style occasion in Abu Dhabi.
The group occasion is being performed as a part of preparations for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black this September, reside on Sky Sports activities, with Luke Donald on-site to help taking part in captains Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari.
Rose’s aspect held a two-point benefit after the Friday fourballs on the Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and doubled their cushion after taking 3.5 factors within the Saturday morning foursomes, earlier than shifting nearer to victory by successful the afternoon session.
Tyrrell Hatton continued his unbeaten begin to the event by partnering Matt Wallace to victory within the prime match, with GB And Eire successful three of the opposite 4 matches – in one other one-sided session – to proceed their dominance.
GB and Eire require simply two factors from the ten singles matches on the ultimate day to assert the biennial contest, whereas Continental Europe – the defending champions after their 2023 success – look set for a heavy defeat regardless of Mathieu Pavon and Romain Langasque successful all three of their matches collectively.
Nice Britain and Eire closing on emphatic win
Hatton and Wallace grabbed the early lead within the prime match however fell behind when the Continental Europe pair claimed successive birdies from the seventh, just for Hatton to roll in from 15 ft to stage the match on the ninth.
Wallace chipped in on the par-five tenth and holed from eight ft to win a 3rd successive gap, with a par sufficient to assert the thirteenth gap earlier than the closing out victory over Rasmus Hojgaard and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen with two holes to spare.
Tyrrell Hatton received his match alongside Matt Wallace to assist GB and Eire to increase their Group Cup lead
“That was big for us,” Hatton mentioned. “Every match is tough but it was awkward to be playing so good this morning and continuing that in the afternoon. We were a bit scruffy at times but, ultimately, around the turn that was massive for us.”
Matthew Jordan and Tom McKibbin got here from one down with three to play to provide a three-birdie end and snatch a 1up victory over Olesen and Norgaard, whereas Tommy Fleetwood and Jordan Smith despatched Molinari and Julien Guerrier 3&2.
Tommy Fleetwood has received 2.5 factors from his three matches for Nice Britain and Eire
“It was an amazing finish,” McKibbin mentioned. “We both struggled out there a bit but dug in and gave it all we had until the last hole and thankfully it paid off.”
The most important win of the event got here when Paul Waring and Laurie Canter thrashed Antoine Rozner and Matteo Manassero 6&4, with Continental Europe’s solely level coming when Pavon and Langasque prolonged their unbeaten file with a 4&2 win over Rose and Aaron Rai.
“That’s probably the best I’ve played so far and Laurie [Canter] was as good,” Waring mentioned. “The pair of us were clinical and hitting high quality shots.”
What occurred earlier within the day?
GB and Eire received three and tied one of many 5 matches within the fog-delayed morning session, which began 35 minutes later than scheduled, shifting Rose’s aspect 7-3 forward and in charge of the competition.
Rose and Tommy Fleetwood closed out a 2up win over Molinari and Julien Guerrier, having seen Hatton gap a final-hole eagle to grab a half-point for him and Wallace towards Thorbjorn Olesen and Niklas Noorgard.
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Tyrrell Hatton sinks a putt from over 60 ft to eagle the par-five final and seize a half-point in his match alongside team-mate Matt Wallace on the Group Cup
Aaron Rai and Tom McKibbin thrashed Nicolai Hojgaard and Rasmus Neegaard-Petersen 4&3, whereas Paul Waring and Matthew Jordan claimed the most important win of the session by despatching Matteo Manassero and Antoine Rozner 5&3.
Continental Europe’s solely full level received got here within the backside match, the place French duo Pavon and Langasque defeated Jordan Smith and Laurie Canter 3&2, with Molinari’s aspect claiming simply 1.5 factors for the second successive session.
Sunday singles line-up and tee occasions
All 20 gamers will once more be concerned within the Sunday singles, which begins at 10.35am native time (6.35am GMT) and sees Fleetwood lead out Nice Britain and Eire towards Pavon.
0635 Matthieu Pavon vs Tommy Fleetwood
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Paul McGinley backs Frenchman Matthieu Pavon to make his mark on the 12 months’s Ryder Cup after his exhibiting on the Group Cup in Abu Dhabi.
0645 Thorbjorn Olesen vs Tyrrell Hatton
0655 Romain Langasque VS Laurie Canter
0705 Julien Guerrier vs Justin Rose
0715 Niklas Norgaard vs Matthew Jordan
Dwell DP World Tour Golf
Sunday twelfth January 6:30am
0725 Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen vs Paul Waring
0735 Antoine Rozner vs Matt Wallace
0745 Matteo Manassero vs Tom McKibbin
0755 Francesco Molinari vs Jordan Smith
0805 Rasmus Hojgaard vs Aaron Rai
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