A decision by World No. 1 Rory McIlroy and fellow Open champ Shane Lowry along with possibly two to three other GB & I stars ruling themselves out of GB & I team selection could see Ewen Ferguson join fellow Scot Bob MacIntyre in January’s inaugural Hero Cup in Abu Dhabi.
McIlroy and Lowry have formally advised officials they will not be competing while there is doubt also both Tyrrell Hatton and possibly US Open champ Matt Fitzpatrick will skip the team event.
It will leave GB & I captain Tommy Fleetwood without the top-ranked on the DP World Tour but then rival European Team captain, Francesco Molinari has been advised Jon Rahm and Vicktor Hovland are non-starters in his 10-man team, and with the teams to be announced later this week.
Ewen Ferguson on the lookout for a place in the GB & I Hero Cup side.
Top-ranked Scot Robert MacIntyre is a certainty in Fleetwood’s team, so the absence of McIlroy, Lowry and possibly two to three others could now see Ferguson get a start in the Ryder Cup format event.
Both Scots are double winners on the Tour with Ferguson most impressive winning twice in 2022 and also going close at the Kenya Open and the Made in Himmerland. Last Sunday, he officially finished a career best of 17th on the Race to Dubai money-list, and with career earnings of over Euro 1.5m in his 59 DP World Tour events.
“It would be nice to get selected but there’s plenty of other guys ahead of me, who may get picked before I do,” said Ferguson.
“Of course, it would be a great way to start the New Year but I’ve really not thought about it, so we’ll just see what happens.”
Fleetwood, in speaking to GolfByTourMiss said: “We know there are a few guys who would be selected but can’t play but then that presents opportunities for other players to make the Hero team, and get to experience that team environment that they may never have tasted.
“Europe’s had in place the Seve Trophy for a long time and that was one of the first items of feedback following last year’s Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits that we maybe lacked a team event every other year there was no Ryder Cup.
“So, I’m excited to be a part of the Hero Cup and to have a captain’s role is really cool for me, and I’m looking forward to getting going early next year”.
The Hero Cup will be staged from January 13th to 15th at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
