Luke Donald has hailed the launch of the Hero Cup, a brand new workforce match play contest aimed toward boosting Europe’s bid to regain the Ryder Cup.
Ryder Cup captain Donald will oversee the occasion in Abu Dhabi from January 13-15 together with two enjoying captains, with two 10-man groups competing in foursomes, fourballs and singles and all 20 gamers participating in every session.
The competitors successfully fills the hole left by the Seve Trophy, which was held eight occasions between 2000 and 2013 and gave captaincy expertise to future Ryder Cup skippers Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal, Nick Faldo, Paul McGinley and Thomas Bjorn.
Donald mentioned: “One of many first issues I used to be eager to do after I was appointed as Ryder Cup captain was to reinstate a workforce match play contest to provide enjoying and management expertise to future Ryder Cup gamers, vice-captains and captains.
“I spoke to quite a lot of former Ryder Cup captains who have been sturdy advocates of how related occasions previously have benefitted gamers who have been pushing to make Ryder Cup groups, in addition to their very own captaincy journey.
“I'm due to this fact grateful to Hero MotoCorp and the DP World Tour for supporting the idea of the Hero Cup and I sit up for seeing the gamers compete at Abu Dhabi Golf Membership in January.”
The 2 groups can be confirmed following 2022 DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, with efficiency on the DP World Tour Rankings taken into consideration within the choice course of.
Donald was one in all Padraig Harrington’s vice-captains for the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, the place the US loved a file 19-9 victory.
Now we have a reasonably good mannequin that works properly on the Ryder Cup however clearly each cycle you'll want to enhanceRyder Cup director Man Kinnings
Ryder Cup director Man Kinnings mentioned: “Now we have a reasonably good mannequin that works properly on the Ryder Cup however clearly each cycle you'll want to enhance; we actually wanted to enhance on the final time and we’ve checked out each side and listened to everybody.”
The possibilities of Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm enjoying within the Hero Cup would seem slim given it takes place the week after the Sentry Event of Champions in Hawaii, one of many “elevated” occasions the PGA Tour’s prime gamers have dedicated to play in response to the specter of LIV Golf.
As issues stand, LIV recruits stay eligible to play on the DP World Tour and earn Ryder Cup qualifying factors from this week’s BMW PGA Championship, whereas Kinnings wouldn't be drawn on whether or not they can be chosen for the Hero Cup.
“The groups can be chosen after the DP World Tour Championship and that’s one thing that Luke will work on along with the captains to determine what the precise make up of these groups is,” Kinnings mentioned.