Hero Cup Teams Revealed By Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald

Playing captains Molinari and Fleetwood each know nine of the ten players on their sides for the Europe vs GB&I match in January

Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood
(Image credit: Getty Images)

A total of 18 players have been named for January's Europe vs GB&I Hero Cup, selected by Europe's Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

Playing captains Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood are each joined by eight other players, with both sides still to select their final team member.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the top four Europeans - Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland - are not currently listed, with all four seemingly guaranteed to make Team Europe for Rome 2023.

The Hero Cup will be headlined by the playing captains Molinari and Fleetwood as well as the likes of Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton, Alex Noren and Thomas Pieters, with both sides featuring a number of younger players who captain Donald will have his eyes on.

Rome potentials including Seamus Power, Sepp Straka, Robert MacIntyre and Guido Migliozzi are also set to feature. Rasmus Hojgaard is currently listed for Continental Europe, with his twin brother Nicolai not yet included.

The last two players will be announced at the end of the DP World Tour calendar year.

“Having worked closely with Tommy and Fran on building the two teams, I’m delighted with the mix of players who will be on show at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in January," Luke Donald said.

“We all thought it was important to combine experience and youthfulness and I think we have found that balance with a mixture of Major Champions and Ryder Cup players, alongside guys who are hoping to secure a spot in Rome next year.”

HERO CUP TEAM CONTINENTAL EUROPE

  • Francesco MOLINARI (C)
  • Thomas DETRY
  • Rasmus HØJGAARD
  • Adrian MERONK
  • Guido MIGLIOZZI
  • Alex NOREN
  • Victor PEREZ
  • Thomas PIETERS
  • Sepp STRAKA
  • Player TBC

HERO CUP TEAM GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND

  • Tommy FLEETWOOD (C)
  • Ewen FERGUSON
  • Tyrrell HATTON
  • Shane LOWRY
  • Robert MACINTYRE
  • Séamus POWER
  • Callum SHINKWIN
  • Jordan SMITH
  • Matt WALLACE
  • Player TBC

The Hero Cup takes place at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from January 13-15.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV