Britain & Ireland within 2 points of Team Cup title

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Britain and Ireland dominated the 2 foursomes sessions and took an 11-4 lead complete Continental Europe astatine the Team Cup connected the 2nd time Saturday.

The arena astatine Abu Dhabi Golf Resort gives European players valuable matchplay action up of the Ryder Cup successful New York this year.

Britain and Ireland led 3½-1½ overnight pursuing Friday's fourballs and won 7½ of 10 points during the foursomes sessions. Britain and Ireland needs conscionable 2 points successful Sunday's singles to clinch the trophy.

The team's wide capacity delighted skipper Justin Rose.

"The leaderboard sewage much and much and much successful our favour arsenic the rounds went connected and connected and on," Rose said. "Every lucifer that sewage tight we either sewage backmost to halve aliases turned them astir to triumph matches. Today was the large day, 10 points up for grabs. They person done an unbelievable job."

Englishman Tommy Fleetwood stood retired pinch victories successful some sessions, teaming pinch countryman Rose successful a 2 up triumph complete Continental Europe skipper Francesco Molinari and Julien Guerrier of France. Fleetwood past collected 3 points alongside Jordan Smith successful a 3 and 2 triumph against the aforesaid brace successful the afternoon.

"We were conscionable very relentless tee to greenish today," Fleetwood said. "We played very good connected what I thought was a beautiful difficult afternoon."

Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin matched Fleetwood's effort. He collaborated Aaron Rai to a 4 and 3 triumph complete Rasmus Højgaard and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, and joined Matthew Jordan for a 2 up triumph against the different Danish pair, Thorbjørn Olesen and Niklas Nørgaard.

Frenchmen Romain Langasque and Matthieu Pavon fought good to triumph some of their matches for Continental Europe, aft besides winning their fourball lucifer connected Friday.

"We were awesome today," Langasque said. "Tomorrow is going to beryllium a reliable time for america arsenic a squad because we are measurement behind."

Continental Europe must expanse Sunday's singles to clasp the trophy won successful 2023, erstwhile it was called the Hero Cup.

The arena was formerly called The Seve Trophy and was played 8 times from 2000-13, pinch Britain and Ireland winning six times and Continental Europe winning twice.

Six of the 20 players and captains from the 2023 version coiled up playing the Ryder Cup that year, erstwhile Europe won to reclaim the cup.

This year's Ryder Cup is astatine Bethpage Black successful September.