New Hero Cup is 'very serious' event for Ryder Cup, says Tommy Fleetwood

Tommy Fleetwood, the Great Britain and Ireland captain, insists everyone involved in the inaugural Hero Cup is taking it “very seriously” in a bid to help Europe get back to winning ways in the Ryder Cup later this year.

Francesco Molinari, captain of Continental Europe, and Tommy Fleetwood, captain of Great Britain and Ireland, pose with the Hero Cup along with Dr Pawan Munjal, chairman and CEO of Hero MotoCorp, at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

The contest, which is effectively a reinvention of the Seve Trophy, takes place from Friday through to Sunday at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, where a Continental Europe side is being skippered by Francesco Molinari.

Having earned the nickname ‘Moliwood’ on the back of a successful partnership in the 2018 Ryder Cup in France, Fleetwood and Molinari are close friends, but they’re out to secure bragging rights on this occasion.

The new event, which is being overseen by Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, has been introduced following a heavy defeat for Europe in the match at Whistling Straits and, therefore, no-one is taking the contest lightly.

Jose Maria Olazabal, the winning 2012 Ryder Cup captain, walks with Thomas Pieters during a practice round at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

“It is very serious,” said Fleetwood, speaking at a press conference alongside Molinari and Dr Pawan Munjal, chairman and CEO of Hero MotoCorp. “If you apply yourself properly in this event, I think it holds you in high regard for the Ryder Cup.

“I remember we had the EurAsia Cup in 2018, and I had a particularly good tournament there and Europe won. I remember Thomas [Bjorn] was the captain and everything you do, they keep a very close eye on for the Ryder Cup.

“When you play in these team events and when you play in the Ryder Cup, a big part of it is how you play, but that's not everything that you can give to the team. There's attitude, there's motivation, there's the way you are with your team-mates.

“There’s a lot. So I think from the stats side, from Luke's side, for the vice captains, for myself and Fran to the players, we are making it as close to the Ryder Cup as possible. It's a hugely-important event for us all.”

Pole Adrian Meronk and Dane Nicolai Hojgaard chat to the press in the build up to the Hero Cup at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.

The title sponsor, too. “Let me add on to what both Tommy and Fran said about the seriousness of this event,” said Dr Munjal. “We put all these questions to the tour when this event was proposed to us as we are putting in money behind this event.”

In addition to Fleetwood, the contest features two other players - Shane Lowry and Tyrrell Hatton - from the team that was left feeling battered and bruised in that last Ryder Cup clash.

“Everybody from Whistling Straits wanted another team event,” added Fleetwood, who has two Scots - Ewen Ferguson and Bob MacIntyre - on his team. “We wanted to be sharper in that team format. So I think from my side and from speaking to my team-mates, we are all in a very competitive mood. We all want to perform. We all want to do our absolute best and we want to win.”

Having been invited by Donald, winning 2014 Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley spoke to the 20 players involved at a get-together on Tuesday night, as did Bjorn, while Jose Maria Olazabal, another victorious skipper at Medinah in 2012, is also in the UAE.

“We had a really good night last night that was very rightfully themed,” said Fleetwood. “The Ryder Cup is a huge motivator for every player in Europe that has a chance to play in September.”

Donald’s decision to involve the likes of Bjorn, Olazabal and McGinley to share their Ryder Cup experience looks to have had the desired effect.

“Listening to all the captains and the experiences, it was just amazing and I had some goosebumps yesterday watching some highlights from the Ryder Cups over the years,” said Pole Adrian Meronk, a two-time winner on the DP World Tour in 2022.

According to another Continental Europe team member, the message to the players about the opportunity they have been handed this week is loud and clear.

“The overall message really is that we are all good enough to make the team,” said Thomas Detry, who is flying the Belgian flag along with 2016 Ryder Cup player Thomas Pieters. So now it comes down to who wants it the most, who shows the most heart, who really believes in this event and who really wants to be there in Rome in 2023.

“Personally I'm dying for it. I really want to make that team and I'm going to do everything I can to show the captains that I'm a great match-play player, team player as well and hopefully I can show that with some good form as well in the next couple months.”

Nicolai Hojgaard was a late replacement in Molinari’s side for his twin brother Rasmus, who is injured. He has also been motivated by what those past captains had to say.

“You want to get that trophy back to Europe and it was one of the coolest nights I've had in a long time, just sitting there listening to their stories and seeing motivational videos,” said the young Dane.

The Hojgaards will emulate Molinari and his brother, Edoardo, if they can both make the team in September or at some time in the future. “If it happens, and when it happens, I think that will be the coolest thing ever,” admitted Nicolai. “I don't think individual tournaments or titles can match that.

“Our biggest goal together is to be out number one in the morning foursomes together. That's our gain goal for Ryder Cups, and I would sacrifice everything to be there, and he would do the same.

“We know each other; every time we play match play, we play together. I think that's very important. And last night we heard from Tommy and Francesco talked about their relationship in Paris, and they know each other so well.

“You hear about José Maria and Seve; he (Olazabal) told stories about them. I think when you are that close, you can pull out some magic when you're playing. We would love to do that.”