….. in Abu Dhabi,
Robert MacIntyre could not have been happier kick-starting a full team event in the pro ranks to deliver GB & I a 4 & 3 thumping over their European rivals on day one of the Herro Cup in Abu Dhabi.
MacIntyre and current PGA Tour No. 1 Seamus Power teed-up in the last of five Fourball matches and began in holing with MacIntyre holing a testy six-foot birdie to halve the opening hole in their match with the Continental Europeans of Austrian Sepp Straka and Poland’s Adrian Meronk.
The Irishman and Oban lefty dove-tailed superbly with Power winning the fourth with a birdie, MacIntyre birdieing the sixth and 11th and Power taking the 12th, and all the time getting on famously laughing and joking as though they were long lost friends, but only having met for a first time on Tuesday night at team dinner.
Robert MacIntyre on route in teaming for victory on day one of the Hero Cup (Kamran Jebreili/AP) (AP)
The duo wrapped-up the first point on day one in halving the 15th with a par over the host National course but with Europe ending the day leading 3 – 2 ahead of two rounds of Foursomes on Saturday.
MacIntyre said: “Seamus and I played unbelievable. We said before we went to the first tee, ‘how do we want to play it here as it’s two chances on every hole?’ and we seemed to do that well. If one person wasn’t in it, the other one was close.
“It was probably just the perfect round of golf.
“We hadn’t met before this week, but we’re kind of from the same background and both feel it’s pretty easy to connect with people.
“We also played on the first practice day with Shane (Lowry) and there was a bit of craic then to ease us in and it was good today.”
The Las Vegas-based Power said: “It’s brilliant not only for the team but for Bobby and I to combine and get the very first point on the board, and in both our first team as pros was great.
“We had a great time out there today, hitting loads of fairways, loads of greens and making a few putts so we are both happy to win 4 and 3 in the end.
Ewen Ferguson was also pleased with his effort teaming with good friend Richard Mansell to grab a halve against European captain Francesco Molinari and partner Nicolai Hojgaard.
It was an encounter of two halves: Europe winning the sixth, losing the seventh but going to the turn to be 1up before 2up at 11 before Mansell led the fightback with birdies on 12 and 15 while the remaining three holes were halved.
Ferguson said: “Richard and I are great friends and we can get on well together. When we’re competing on the regular tour we could head out to restaurants together and things like that so that added to being comfortable out there today
“We knew we were a good team before heading out and we had each mentioned to Luke (Donald) beforehand we’d like to be teamed, and I think we would be good tomorrow, as well.
Ewen Ferguson (r) and good friend Richard Mansell after drawing their opening Hero Cup match
“We each played well out there with Richard very strong and long off the tee while I’m very accurate off the tee, as well.
“So that helped us to gel well together.”
And when the double Tour winning Ferguson was asked about any nerves on the first tee he smiled saying: “I wasn’t nervous at all to be honest. No, I just felt like I wanted to get going and make putts. I wanted to get something happening between us. I didn’t feel nervous at all. Actually probably felt nervous because I hit bad shots on the one hole.”
Europe won the opening match with Belgium’s Thomas Pieters combining with Alex Noren to win 1up at the last, and with Noren making birdie at the par-5 18th against GB & I captain Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry.
In other matches:
Europeans Antione Rozner and Thomas Detry won 2up over GB & I Tyrrell Hatton and Jordan Smith
GB & I Callum Shinkwin and Matt Wallace tied with Europeans Victor Perez and Guido Migliozzi
END OF ROUND ONE – Europe 3 – GB&I 2
DAY 2 – HERO CUP, ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB
SATURDAY MORNING FOURSOMES (UK/Irish times)
3.35am
Continental Europe Thomas Pieters/Alex Noren -v- GB & I Ewen Ferguson/Richard Mansell
3.45am
Continental Europe See Straka/Thomas Detry -v- GB & I Tommy Fleetwood/Tyrrell Hatton
3.55am
Continental Europe Francesco Molinari/Nicolai Hojgaard -v- Callum Shinkwin/Matt Wallace
4.05am
Continental Europe Antione Rozner/Adrian Meronk -v- Jordan Smith/Robert MacIntyre
4.15am
Continental Europe Victor Perez/Guido Migliozzi -v- Shane Lowry/Seamus Power.
