Tommy Fleetwood reveals important player discussion on plane home from Ryder Cup

Tommy Fleetwood has revealed the important discussion between Ryder Cup Europe players as he beams with pride at being a playing captain at Hero Cup.

Ben Smith

02 Dec 2022

Tommy Fleetwood reveals important player discussion on plane home from Ryder Cup — Tommy Fleetwood reveals important player discussion on plane home from…

Tommy Fleetwood has revealed the European players discussed the importance of adding another team event into the schedule after their dismal performance at the Ryder Cup on their journey home.

Ryder Cup Europe - led by Padraig Harrington - were dismantled 19-9 and Whistling Straits.

It was a resounding defeat and led to predictions the U.S. side featuring the likes of Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Daniel Berger, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka would dominate the competition for years to come.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by . (@golfmagic)

Now Johnson, DeChambeau and Koepka have joined LIV Golf and are suspended by the PGA Tour, leaving the door ajar for potentially some new talent heading to the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome.

Fleetwood has been named as a playing captain for the GB&I side for the Hero Cup in January.

His team will take on a Continental Europe side led by Francesco Molinari.

It will be played over 13-15 January at Abu Dhabi GC. This tournament has replaced the Seve Trophy, which was played between 2000-2013.

Fleetwood told the media after the first round of the Hero World Challenge in Albany on the PGA Tour this week:

"I think it's [the Hero Cup] an important part of the process to how we want to perform at the Ryder Cup. I mean, literally, on the flight home from Whistling Straits, that was something that we were discussing on the plane, that we wanted a team event. Again, we wanted a way to play sort of, um, another chance to play team golf and, and set us up a bit better for the Ryder Cup."

Fleetwood told the media that his father was prouder of the fact his son was named as a playing captain for the Hero Cup than at any other point during his career.

He continued:

"Luke [Donald] asked me [to be a captain], and I was quite taken aback, and so it's just a lovely thing to be asked. And, you know, I would say I'm not really at the age that I would be thinking about being a captain of anything, to be honest with you. But I think it's a nice thing that guys like Luke or, you know, whoever selected it, sort of sees those qualities in me. I think it's good for Ryder Cup preparation."

Fleetwood has now been part of two European teams.

He was part of a formidable partnership with Molinari at Le Golf National in Paris where the duo won four out of four matches, including beating Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed.

The Englishman, now 31, later joked about that despite conceding he felt lucky that week.

As for captain Donald, he admitted he is "leaving the controversy to others" in the build-up to the Ryder Cup as it remains largely unknown what presence LIV players will have.

One player who is unlikely to be a part of the team is Sergio Garcia, who has this week criticised his former team mates.

Next page: Stenson claims he'd take lie detector test over LIV claims