One of the big questions the DP World Tour will have to contend with later this year concerns who will succeed Luke Donald as European Ryder Cup captain, with the Englishman in the job since his initial appointment in 2022.
Luke Donald has a chance to become arguably the greatest European captain of all-time later this year. He did an outstanding job in Rome in 2023, but winning an away Ryder Cup has become one of the toughest challenges in elite golf.
It is hard to imagine Donald staying on for 2027 in Ireland. Given the challenge of winning away, each home Ryder Cup now has the potential to be something of a proving ground for captains.
That is also the case for the Team Cup – the event on the DP World Tour which very much resembles the Seve Trophy. It was Justin Rose and Francesco Molinari who led the respective sides in Abu Dhabi this week.
And it proved to be an extremely successful weekend for Great Britain and Ireland, with Rose’s side dominating all four sessions to win by a hefty margin.
Tommy Fleetwood issues a verdict on Justin Rose’s captaincy at the Team Cup
Tommy Fleetwood had led the side in the previous event. But he was left to be Europe’s talisman this time around, and produced a masterclass in his singles match with Matthieu Pavon on Sunday.
It was Fleetwood who secured the point which got his team across the line. And speaking to Sky Sports after, the Englishman explained how impressive Rose had been as a leader.
“He’s been amazing, hasn’t he. For us, for me, on an individual level, I’m so close to Justin, I think so highly of him,” he said.
“He’s one of my closest people out here, and he has been for a long time, I think he’s been a phenomenal captain, and I think seeing his insights on how he views certain situation, how he sees the week panning out, I think you’re constantly learning off him. And he was great, I think all the lads absolutely loved playing for him. He was an unbelievable captain, and I’m glad we got the win for him this time.”
Fleetwood got his team across the line once again
Rose will have his sights set on making the Ryder Cup team as a player in 2025. But you would imagine that he will be involved one way or another at Bethpage Black, particularly if the path is opening up for him to be a future captain of the European side.
Meanwhile, Fleetwood will be hoping to continue his superb record in the event. He won four points from five matches at Le Golf National, while he claimed three from four at Marco Simone.
And of course, few will forget that it was Fleetwood who clinched victory in Rome with his point over Rickie Fowler on Sunday.
He reminded everyone how good he is at the Team Cup, so it was fitting that he sealed the winning point once again on Sunday.
He will be desperate to continue that run in New York later this year.
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