… in Abu Dhabi
The Scottish duo of Ewen Ferguson and Bob MacIntyre are staring at bringing home a GB & I victory hero heading into the Sunday Singles at the Hero Cup here in Abu Dhabi.
Ferguson and MacIntyre, who are out third and second last in the 15 matches, have been sent out at that position on the team list given so many team match-play matches are decided among the last few groups.
Continental Europe take a two-point lead at 8 1/2 to 6 1/2 points into the final session on the host Abu Dhabi GC.
Francesco Molinari the European captain continues to lead by example teaming with late replacement Nicolai Hojgaard to be both unbeaten in earning 2 1/2 points over the three earlier matches.
Ferguson and team-mate Richard Mansell suffered a 2 & 1 defeat at the hands of the 2018 Open champ and Hogjaard.
Ferguson said: “It’s wide open tomorrow and while Europe is leading by two points that lead can quickly be wiped-out playing match-play.
“We only have to win two early matches and that’s Tommy’s message to the team and exactly how I will be thinking.
“I’ve lost none of my excitement heading into the Singles and today we just came up against a strong team today with Francesco playing phenomenal”.
Indeed, Molinari along with playing partner Nicolai Hojgaard are undefeated this week earning 2 1/2 points from a possible three.
The Continenal European captain is striving not only to get the European name first on the gleaming silver trophy but also make it three wins for Europe in the competition that first teed-off in 2000. A Seve Ballesteros captained side won the inaugural event at Sunningdale in 2000 but with GB & I dominating to win the next seven showdowns before Molinari was a member of the winning Europe side in 2013 in Versailles.
And it was this experience Molinari has at match-play, and as the sports world took notice of in Versailles in 2018, that very much impressed Ferguson despite his loss.
“It was a tough afternoon coming-up as Francesco didn’t hit a bad shot all day,” said Ferguson.
“I read that he had been struggling so I don’t know where that news came from (smiling) because he’s just a phenomenal player, and if he plays the way he played today it would not surprise me he’ll be teeing-up later in the year in Rome
“Saying that, Richard (Mansell) and I fought every hole out there but it was just so hard to break them down and get ourselves back into match.
“In the end we just came up short losing 2 & 1 but in fairness, we have been playing against high quality players, who have been playing amazing.
“It’s wide open tomorrow and while Europe is leading by two points that lead can easily be wiped-out playing match-play.
“I know that will be Tommy’s message tonight and I’ve lost none of my excitement heading into the Singles.
“We just came up against a strong team today with Francesco playing phenomenal”.
Ferguson will face Texas-based Austrian Sepp Straka.
MacIntye teamed with Seamus Power to lose their Saturday afternoon Foursomes, faces the wily Swede Alex Noren.