Team Cup: Everything you need to know about return of Ryder Cup-style match play contest

A mix of high-profile, established stars along with some of European golf’s brightest emerging talents are assembling for the return of the Team Cup.

Known as the Hero Cup for its inaugural edition in 2023, the three-day matchplay competition on the DP World Tour takes place in Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates.

Major Champions Francesco Molinari and Justin Rose have been named as the Playing Captains, with the pair leading respective teams of ten DP World Tour members representing Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland.

Here’s all you need to know ahead of a fun, competitive event which is sure to prove another valuable week in the ongoing build up to this year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

What is the format of the Team Cup?

As in 2023, the teams will compete in match play across one session of fourballs on the Friday, two sessions of foursomes on the Saturday and one session of singles on the Sunday, with every player taking part in all four of the sessions.

Fourballs
Each member of a two-man team plays his own ball (four balls are in play on every hole). Each team counts the lowest of its two scores on each hole, and the team whose player has the lowest score wins the hole. If the low scores are tied, the hole is halved.

Foursomes
Each two-man team plays one ball per hole with the players taking turns until each hole is complete (two balls are in play on every hole). Players alternate hitting tee shots, with one leading off on odd-numbered holes, and the other hitting first on even-numbered holes. The team with the low score on each hole wins that hole. If their scores are tied, the hole is halved.

Singles
Each match features one player from each team. The player with the lower score on each hole wins that hole. If their scores are tied, the hole is halved.

Scoring

Each match is worth one point, with matches ending in a tie worth 1/2 point to each side. The first team to reach the 13 point mark (of the 25 available) wins the Team Cup trophy.

In the event of an overall points tie, the Team Cup will be decided by a foursome hole by hole play-off. Each Captain will choose the players to represent their team at the conclusion of play.

Who’s in action?

Molinari and Rose were named as the Playing Captains last August. Molinari captained Continental Europe to victory two years ago and will go head-to-head with his Ryder Cup team-mate Rose, who assumes the Great Britain & Ireland captaincy for the first time.

In addition to Molinari and Rose, the teams comprise the leading four available Continental European and Great Britain & Ireland members from the final 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings.

The five remaining players on each side were selected by the respective Captains in consultation with European Ryder Cup skipper Luke Donald, who is again overseeing the action.

The last two picks were made after the conclusion of last month’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, with Matthew Jordan of England and France’s Romain Langasque named as the final selections.

Of the 20 players teeing it up at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort, from 10-12 January, there are six with Ryder Cup experience, a combined 71 DP World Tour victories and 13 who are to make their debuts in the Team Cup.

2025 Team Cup sides

The leading four available Continental European players from the 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings: Rasmus Højgaard, Niklas Nørgaard, Matteo Manassero, Thorbjørn Olesen.

The five Continental Europe captain’s picks: Nicolai Højgaard, Romain Langasque, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Matthieu Pavon, Antoine Rozner.

Continental Europe: Francesco Molinari (C), Nicolai Højgaard, Rasmus Højgaard, Romain Langasque, Matteo Manassero, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Niklas Nørgaard, Thorbjørn Olesen, Matthieu Pavon, Antoine Rozner

The leading four available Great Britain & Ireland players from the 2024 Race to Dubai Rankings: Tyrrell Hatton, Paul Waring, Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Wallace.

The five Continental Europe captain’s picks: Laurie Canter, Matthew Jordan, Tom McKibbin, Aaron Rai, Jordan Smith

Great Britain & Ireland: Justin Rose (C), Laurie Canter, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Matthew Jordan, Tom McKibbin, Aaron Rai, Jordan Smith, Matt Wallace, Paul Waring

Where is the Team Cup being held?

Abu Dhabi Golf Club is well-known to golf-watching fans of the DP World Tour, having hosted the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship for 16 consecutive years from 2006 to 2021.

With a striking clubhouse, designed in the shape of a falcon with its wings outstretched, the par 72 National Course is set to play six yards longer than it did for the first edition of the Team Cup two years ago at 7,648 yards.

It features four par fives, with the shortest being the 552-yard dog-leg-right 18th, with a large lake to the right of the fairway.

Other standout holes include the 465-yard par four sixth, with water on either side of the fairway as you approach the green.

Are there Race to Dubai or Ryder Cup points on offer?

While the Team Cup sits at the start of the International Swing on the 2025 Race to Dubai schedule, the event does not award Race to Dubai or Ryder Cup points.

How to follow the action?

European Tour Productions, the DP World Tour’s in-house production company, will produce and distribute live coverage of the tournament.

You can watch live coverage of all three days of the Team Cup - to find out where to watch in your area, click here.