The event, which pits Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) against Continental Europe, proved to be a key element in Europe’s preparation for their 16 ½ – 11 ½ victory over the USA in the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome.
Francesco Molinari will once again captain the team representing Continental Europe while Justin Rose steps in to lead team GB&I.
We caught up with 2013 U.S Open champion Rose, a veteran of six Ryder Cups, and 2018 Open Champion Molinari, a three-time Ryder Cup victor, ahead of the showdown on the National Course.
Worldwide Golf: You finished second behind Jamie Donaldson at the 2013 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – having played many iconic venues around the world, what stands out about the National Course and how will its layout challenge the players in a team format?
Justin Rose: Yeah, I have good memories of the National Course in Abu Dhabi. I think it’s always been a golf course that demands a lot of you, especially off the tee. They can set the course up with quite a bit of rough and I think that is relatively tight. There are a few angles, especially off the tee, that you need to be wary of. I think if you go if you go there and you drive well, you can really set up a good week and I think that that’s going to be one of the biggest challenges for the players in the team format, especially when it comes to foursomes,
WWG: The UAE is investing heavily in golf as a sport and into becoming a sporting destination. How do you see events like the Team Cup contributing to the development of grassroots golf in the region?
JR: It’s great that the UAE is investing heavily in golf. Their facilities are going from strength-to-strength and I think it’s becoming such a desirable destination to go and play golf. But grass roots growth in the region is super-important. Obviously, a lot of people travel out there to come and experience the weather and the great the great golf courses, but we do want the next generation of golfers coming through in the UAE to be inspired by all of these great events that are being put on.
The hope is that the Team Cup can show everybody something a little bit different. Obviously, we get very familiar with strokeplay tournaments and the same events as rolling in and out of town. But Team Cup can maybe bring a little bit more camaraderie and togetherness and obviously, kids tend to really gravitate towards team sports too, so if they can see golf through that light, that can be an interesting way of helping grow golf in the region.
WWG: Having achieved success around the world, what are the distinctive features of playing in the UAE as an all-round experience?
JR: Typically, when you play in the UAE, you’re playing in pretty perfect golf conditions. The golf courses are usually in wonderful condition and they all have their own interesting and individual styles. But in January time you can get a little bit more wind, so for me that’s one of the biggest factors in terms of what makes the golf courses a good challenge. Also, if it’s more in the wintertime, the temperatures get a bit cooler and I feel like they can grow the rough a little bit thicker. So, typically, we’re playing the golf course, I would say, in pretty demanding conditions. Also, with a lack of rain generally in the area, they have a good opportunity to get the golf courses quite firm and that is the one way to really make courses tough for the pros, is to firm up the greens.
Worldwide Golf: Your Ryder Cup heroics have inspired countless aspiring golfers around the world. What advice would you give to up and coming young golfers in the UAE looking to take the step up and compete on a global stage?
Francesco Molinari: My advice would be to test yourself and your game by traveling and playing outside your comfort zone. That means trying new courses and new conditions and learn what you need to improve in your game and that will also help to grow your confidence.
WWG: What elements of UAE hospitality and culture make tournaments here stand out from the rest of the world?
FM: We’ve been lucky as DP World Tour players to get to know the UAE and its culture regularly for a few years now. I think the quality of hospitality is second to none in terms of structures and food. The welcoming culture also helps all of us to feel at home anytime we’re playing in the UAE and wanting to come back every year.
WWG: Playing in a team format requires a different mindset. How do you balance your usual individual style and approach with the dynamics of a team environment and what is it about that which seems to align with your personality?
FM: It’s always interesting and fun for us golfers to test ourselves in a team environment. I think golf makes us very individualistic during the season, so we have to reset and adjust to be part of a team, trying to do play our best as usual but also trying to be good teammates and supporting each other. That comes quite natural to me as I enjoy the team atmosphere and having grown up in Italy where football is the biggest sport I’ve always dreamt of being part of a team and sharing joys and responsibilities with the rest of the team.
