Team Cup: Justin Rose’s GB and Ireland closing on big win at Ryder Cup-style event as Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood impress

Great Britain and Ireland are closing in on an emphatic Team Cup victory over Continental Europe after taking a 11-4 lead into the final day of the Ryder Cup-style event in Abu Dhabi.

The team event is being played as part of preparations for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black this September, live on Sky Sports, with Luke Donald on-site to support playing captains Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari.

Rose’s side held a two-point advantage after the Friday fourballs at the Abu Dhabi Golf Resort and doubled their cushion after taking 3.5 points in the Saturday morning foursomes, before moving closer to victory by winning the afternoon session.

Tyrrell Hatton continued his unbeaten start to the tournament by partnering Matt Wallace to victory in the top match, with GB And Ireland winning three of the other four matches – in another one-sided session – to continue their dominance.

GB and Ireland require just two points from the 10 singles matches on the final day to claim the biennial contest, while Continental Europe – the defending champions after their 2023 success – look set for a heavy defeat despite Mathieu Pavon and Romain Langasque winning all three of their matches together.

More to follow…

What happened earlier in the day?

GB and Ireland won three and tied one of the five matches in the fog-delayed morning session, which started 35 minutes later than scheduled, moving Rose’s side 7-3 ahead and in control of the contest.

Rose and Tommy Fleetwood closed out a 2up win over Molinari and Julien Guerrier, having seen Hatton hole a final-hole eagle to snatch a half-point for him and Wallace against Thorbjorn Olesen and Niklas Noorgard.

Aaron Rai and Tom McKibbin thrashed Nicolai Hojgaard and Rasmus Neegaard-Petersen 4&3, while Paul Waring and Matthew Jordan claimed the biggest win of the session by despatching Matteo Manassero and Antoine Rozner 5&3.

Continental Europe’s only full point won came in the bottom match, where French duo Pavon and Langasque defeated Jordan Smith and Laurie Canter 3&2, with Molinari’s side claiming just 1.5 points for the second successive session.

What happens on Sunday?

All 20 players will again be involved in the Sunday singles, which begins at 10.35am local time (6.35am GMT) and sees matches going out in nine-minute intervals.

Sunday singles draw to follow…

Can Continental Europe make a historic comeback at the Team Cup? Watch the final day live on Sunday from 6.30am on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event. Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and more with NOW.