Justin Rose’s first role as a captain worked wonders, as he steered his Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) team to an emphatic 17-8 success over the continent of Europe in the Team Cup in Abu Dhabi — and he is very much in the driving seat to move into a similar captain’s role for the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in 2027.
Rose’s GB&I team held a strong seven-point advantage — from the fourballs and foursomes sessions — and, needing just a further two points from the 10 singles, wrapped up the win without any fuss. Fittingly, it was Tommy Fleetwood who won four points from four matches in a hugely impressive performance, securing the overall victory with his 3&2 success over Mattieu Pavon.
For Tom McKibbin, the 22-year-old Northern Irish man’s only loss came in the singles where he lost out to Italy’s Matteo Manassero by one hole.
McKibbin’s three points return from four was impressive, although if he makes the anticipated move to LIV Golf in the coming weeks — where he is mooted to join Jon Rahm’s Legions XIII team — his prospects of qualifying for Luke Donald’s European team for the Ryder Cup in September would only come from limited appearances on the DP World Tour and any Majors he manages to play in. As of now, McKibbin is only exempt into the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.
Fleetwood, yet again, showed his matchplay qualities in winning all four of his matches. “It obviously feels great, what an unbelievable group of lads we had this week and an unbelievable captain so just a pleasure to be a part of it. Everybody just played so well. I always find it very motivating and inspiring being around the lads in a team environment, you want to get best out of yourself,” said the English man, who moves on to this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic before relocating back across to the PGA Tour in the United States.
Rose’s captaincy — with Donald and Paul McGinley among those in the background — proved to be an impressive one in perhaps laying his cards on the table to get the Europe captain’s role for Adare Manor.
Regarding his first experience of captaincy and what he had learned, Rose said: “That there’s a lot to think about and a lot of nuances, a lot of detail, that you need to be well-prepared. I’m, obviously, basically being babysat as well. I tried to give it my best with messaging and put my stamp on the team. But to have Luke Donald and Paul McGinley as resources and vice-captain, which are probably two of the best Ryder Cup captains in history, and obviously José Maria Olazábal, having him here as well, to learn from and lean on, has helped me so much.”
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