Everything you need to know from day one at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Continental Europe lead 3-2 against Great Britain & Ireland after a thrilling Friday four-ball session at the Hero Cup.
Here is everything you need to know from day one at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Mansell in match play mode
Great Britain & Ireland's Richard Mansell produced one of the standout moments on day one as he chipped in for a stunning birdie from just off the green to tie the fifth hole. And his passionate celebration showed how much it meant. During an on-course interview, Mansell - who alongside Ewen Ferguson earned half a point from the match with Continental Europe Captain Francesco Molinari and Nicolai Højgaard - said: "I love match play. We grew up playing that as kids in Great Britain. I haven't played since the Arnold Palmer Cup as an amateur back in 2017. Me and Ewen are feeding off each other, we get on great. We're having some fun and seem to be getting on OK so far."
It means more when it's match play 💪@richardmansel14 | #HeroCup pic.twitter.com/aKS9ivsJ9T
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 13, 2023
Fleetwood and Lowry's fightback comes up just short
Continental Europe looked to be home and dry in the top match after winning three holes without reply on the front nine, with Thomas Pieters playing some of his very best golf. But GB&I reduced the gap to two holes at the tenth before winning the 14th and 15th to tie the match and swing the momentum back the way of Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, despite some impressive putting from Alex Noren. However, the 18th hole proved decisive as Noren rolled in his putt at the last to secure a 1UP victory.
Power and MacIntyre storm to victory
Séamus Power and Robert MacIntyre got GB&I's only full point on Friday with a dominant 4&3 win over Sepp Straka and Adrian Meronk in the bottom match. The outcome never looked in doubt, with the GB&I duo not once falling behind. Power said: "We played well. We made plenty of birdies. Made some putts at key times and things that you have to do to win a four-ball."
Dominant 💥@Power4Seamus & @robert1lefty get the first point on the board for Team GB&I. #HeroCup pic.twitter.com/rRzGHBTJtZ
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 13, 2023
Magnificent Molinari
How close was this from Continental Europe Captain Francesco Molinari at the 11th?
Close-fought matches
Four of the five matches went all the way to the 18th as two evenly-matched teams did battle. It looked at one stage like Continental Europe might run away with things, but a brilliant finish saw Matt Wallace and Callum Shinkwin and Ferguson and Mansell tie with Victor Perez and Guido Migliozzi and Nicolai Højgaard and Molinari respectively.
