Hero Cup format CONFIRMED: What is the new DP World Tour event?

The Hero Cup is almost upon us as the DP World Tour and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald ramp up their preparation and plans for the big match with America in September.

The new event to be played in Abu Dhabi this week will be seen as a chance for Donald to watch developing European players and potential captain's picks for the Ryder Cup in eight months' time.

Tommy Fleetwood will captain the Great Britain and Ireland side against Francesco Molinari's Continental European side at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in an event which mirrors the old Seve Trophy.

Both teams contain experienced players and Ryder Cup participants such as Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton and Thomas Pieters, but also up-and-coming stars like Nicolai Hojgaard, Adrian Meronk and Robert MacIntyre.

It is a chance for the stars of the DP World Tour to experience high-pressure match play situations. It might not match the intensity of the Ryder Cup itself, but it is a starting point for Donald and a solid idea to develop prospective partnerships and bonds.

"One of the first things I was keen to do when I was appointed as Ryder Cup Captain was to reinstate a team match play contest to give playing and leadership experience to future Ryder Cup players, vice-captains and Captains," Donald said.

"I spoke to a number of former Ryder Cup Captains who were strong advocates of how similar events in the past have benefitted players who were pushing to make Ryder Cup teams, as well as their own captaincy journey."

When and where is the Hero Cup being played?

The Hero Cup is being played at Abu Dhabi Golf Club in Abu Dhabi. It begins on January 13 and will finish on January 15.

What is the format?

The Hero Cup will feature one fourball session, one foursomes session and one singles session.

On Friday, January 13, there will be five fourball matches. On Saturday, January 14, there will be 10 foursomes matches played across two sessions and on Sunday, January 15, there will be 10 singles matches.

Every player will play in every session and there will be 25 points up for grabs. At the Ryder Cup, there are 28 points to play for and there are 30 points at the Presidents Cup.

Your #HeroCup schedule for the week pic.twitter.com/E4arVYGGNI

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) January 10, 2023

Who is playing?

As previously stated, the heroic pair of Fleetwood and Molinari from the 2018 Ryder Cup in France will be torn apart as captains for this week. 

Fleetwood will lead the Great Britain and Ireland team made up of Ewen Ferguson, Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, Robert MacIntyre, Richard Mansell, Seamus Power, Callum Shinkwin, Jordan Smith and Matt Wallace.

Molinari, who also won The Open in 2018, will oversee a side made up of Thomas Detry, Nicolai Hojgaard, Adrian Meronk, Guido Migliozzi, Alex Noren, Victor Perez, Thomas Pieters, Antoine Rozner and Sepp Straka.

How can we watch it?

UK golf fans can tune in on Friday on the Sky Sports Golf channel. Coverage begins at 7 am and finishes at 1 pm. Saturday's coverage on the same channel will run until 1 pm but begin an hour earlier at 6 am and Sunday's finale will run from 6.30 am until midday.

How the Hero Cup teams look for January #HeroCup pic.twitter.com/7sracBNgc1

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 21, 2022