Francesco Molinari’s Continental Europe lifted the Champions League trophy after defeating Great Britain and Ireland in Sunday’s opener.
He now wants to return for more team preparation for the Ryder Cup in his native Italy later this year.
“It’s a big motivation for me,” said Molinari, who led Continental Europe to a 14.5-10.5 win over Britain and Ireland.
“[The Ryder Cup] It’s far away, there’s a lot of golf to play and I have to focus on my game, which is a lot better than it was. It will be amazing to be in Rome.”
Molinari led Abu Dhabi from the front with 3.5 points for the week — tied for the most through the four sessions — and took the stage in Sunday’s singles by taking down top-ranked Shane Lowry in the first match, winning 3&2.
Continental Europe started the day with an 8.5-6.5 lead and won the singles 6-4; Adrian Meronk hit a 25-foot putt on 18 to take the winning point. The Polish player was only once of the week.
The revival of the competition — formerly known as the Save Trophy — gave European Ryder Cup boss Luke Donald a chance to assess the new generation of players, with veterans such as Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia expected to be in attendance. They are not in Rome because they play in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League.
Donald knows all about 40-year-old Molinari, the major champion and European Ryder Cup-winning star who formed an inseparable and invincible partnership with Tommy Fleetwood outside Paris in 2018.
Since then, Molinari’s form has declined and even dropped out of the world’s top 200, but he believes he is on a comeback.
Donald learns more about another Italian — 25-year-old Guido Migliozzi — and other young players.
Perez beat Jordan Smith 4&2, Hodgegard Seamus Power and Migliozzi 1-draw in the final game against Richard Mansell 4&3 in Molinari’s win against Lowry, who finished the week on zero points.
A 1-0 win by Kalm Schinkein put Meronk 13 points clear of Continental Europe – the target needed for victory.
“I would say European golf is a very good hand,” Molinari said.
McIntyre is emerging as a future star of European golf and he completed a good week for the Scotsman with a 5&3 win over Alex Noren. Fleetwood won the second match 3&2 against Thomas Peters, then spent the rest of the afternoon supporting his teammates at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
At the trophy ceremony, Fleetwood smiled as he congratulated continental Europe “through the teeth” — and tried to see the bigger picture.
“Two years ago in September, one of the first things we talked about was the possibility of playing more team golf and having that opportunity,” he said.
“All of our passion and competitiveness came out.”
