Continental Europe beat Great Britain and Ireland to win Hero Cup

Continental Europe won the Hero Cup as Great Britain and Ireland were unable to recover in the Sunday singles.
Francesco Molinari’s side took an 8.5-6.5 points cushion into the final day at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and built on that by winning six of the 10 singles games to triumph 14.5 to 10.5.
Poland’s Adrian Meronk sank the decisive putt in his one up victory over England’s Callum Shinkwin.
Champions 🏆
Victory for @F_Molinari‘s Continental Europe at the #HeroCup. pic.twitter.com/l3iWcALaNl
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 15, 2023
Molinari told Sky Sports: “Amazing, amazing. I can finally relax – the last couple of hours have been tense after finishing my game.
“But yeah, it’s been great all week, super happy for the guys.
“Like I said all week, it’s been very, very easy leading them and being a captain for them.”
Molinari, hero of Europe’s 2018 Ryder Cup victory, led from the front with a 3&2 victory over Shane Lowry.
.@AdrianMeronk with the putt that secured victory 🏆#HeroCup pic.twitter.com/qqF6GKLvQk
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 15, 2023
GB&I captain Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton turned the board red with comfortable 3&2 and 5&4 wins over Thomas Pieters and Antoine Rozner, and Matt Wallace kept them in the hunt with a 2&1 success over Thomas Detry.
But Continental Europe maintained their advantage as Nicolai Hojgaard beat Seamus Power one up, while Victor Perez and Sepp Straka were too strong for Jordan Smith and Ewen Ferguson in their respective 4&2 and 5&4 victories.
It was left to Meronk to sink his birdie putt from more than 30 feet on the 18th green to see Continental Europe home.
Scot Robert Macintyre, beating Alex Noren 5&3, and Guido Miglozzi, with a 4&3 victory over Richard Mansell, produced the final points for their teams.

Fleetwood said: “We obviously came here to win and wanted to do it for each other.
“The first thing I said at the start of the week was ‘your team-mates don’t remember if you play bad, miss a putt or lose a point’.
“But everybody remembers if you don’t give 100 per cent and I couldn’t have asked for any more from anybody this week.
“It’s been an amazing experience for me and I’ve loved playing with my team-mates.
“But they (Europe) clearly deserved it this week, they played the best golf and the winning team makes those moments count.”
Latest
-
News
Jon Rahm hopeful fans ‘rein back’ on excessive celebrations at Phoenix Open
The event has attracted a top-class field which includes 18 of the world’s top 20.
-
PGA Tour
Justin Rose wins AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am to claim first title since 2019
Monday’s resumption saw the 42-year-old make birdies on the 11th, 13th and 14th en route to a 66.
-
PGA Tour
Daniel Gavins survives final-hole drama to win Ras Al Khaimah Championship
The Englishman held his nerve to hole for a double-bogey seven on the 18th and clinch a one-shot victory.
-
PGA Tour
Gareth Bale admits to nerves on debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am
The 33-year-old, who announced his retirement from football last month, is a two-handicapper.
-
PGA Tour
Jordan Spieth wants Pebble Beach to become one of PGA Tour’s elevated events
The PGA Tour’s top players have committed to playing against each other at least 20 times a year.
-
PGA Tour
G4D Open is ‘great news’ for golfers with disabilities – Brendan Lawlor
Up to 80 players will contest the inaugural event in May.
-
PGA Tour
It’s been a battle – Rory McIlroy delighted to pip rival Patrick Reed in Dubai
The Northern Irishman birdied the final two holes at Emirates Golf Club to card a closing 68 and finish a shot ahead of Reed on 19 under par.
-
PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy holds off rival Patrick Reed with birdie on 18 to seal Dubai win
McIlroy birdied the final two holes at Emirates Golf Club to card a closing 68 and finish 19 under par.
-
PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy leads by three in bid to win his third Dubai Desert Classic title
England’s Callum Shinkwin and Dan Bradbury are McIlroy’s closest challengers heading into the final round.
-
LPGA Tour
Golf bid to increase diversity in sport improving but still has ‘long way to go’
Nicola Bennett is an ambassador for the Golf Foundation, helping to drive grassroots campaigns.