Tyrrell Hatton’s Ryder Cup hopes boosted by inclusion in warm-up event

Tyrrell Hatton’s hopes of featuring in the 2025 Ryder Cup have been given a boost after the Englishman was named as the lone LIV golfer in the initial line-ups for the Team Cup.

The event in Abu Dhabi pits a British and Irish team against a squad of Continental counterparts, and offers a rare opportunity for prospective picks to impress Luke Donald, Europe’s captain, in team play.

Justin Rose and Edoardo Molinari will serve as playing captains across three days of competition from 10-12 January, with Hatton earning selection in Rose’s ranks.

While one more slot on each side remain up for grabs, there are no places for fellow LIV Golf rebels Jon Rahm, Sergio Garcia or Adrian Meronk, whose participation in next year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black is in doubt.

Veteran Garcia has applied for a DP World Tour card after paying fines related to his defection to the breakaway Saudi-backed series, though must serve a suspension before attempting to earn an 11th selection for the biennial Europe vs United States clash.

Tommy Fleetwood anchors a Great Britain and Ireland line-up that also includes Paul Waring, who took a stunning victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship earlier in November.

The Hojgaard twins, Nicolai and Rasmus, meanwhile lead the Continental team, with Antoine Rozner also picked after an impressive tie for third at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

“Fran, Justin and I are really excited by the two teams which will assemble at the Team Cup in January,” Donald said. “There’s a great mix of youth and experience on both sides and there will certainly be a competitive atmosphere at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort.

“This event provided valuable insight for a number of players who eventually made it to Marco Simone, with six of the 20 competitors in 2023 going on to play in the Ryder Cup, three of those making their debut appearances, and we’re excited to see who can make their mark in next year as they try and earn a place in my side for New York City.”

The teams will play a session of fourballs on the Friday, two sessions of foursomes on the Saturday and singles on Sunday, with every player competing in each session.

The final player in each team will be confirmed after the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa concludes on 8 December.