Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald will be involved in the selection of the teams for the Hero Trophy

DP World Tour launches new European team match play event

Abu Dhabi Golf Club will host the first Hero Trophy in January next year

The DP World Tour has announced the creation of a new team match play event aimed at giving European players experience in the format ahead of potential future Ryder Cup appearances.

Two 10-man teams comprising players from Great Britain & Ireland and Continental Europe will be selected by European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, with the event taking place at Abu Dhabi Golf Club from January 13-15, 2023.

Donald will work with both teams in Abu Dhabi and will keep a close eye on the action inside the ropes across the three days, with the two team captains to be announced in due course.

The match, which closely resembles the Seve Trophy, which was held eight times from 2000 to 2013, will consist of one session of foursomes, one session of fourballs and one session of singles matches, with all 20 players taking part in each session.

The two teams will be confirmed following the conclusion of November’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, with performance on the DP World Tour rankings considered in the player selection process.

“One of the first things I was keen to do when I was appointed as Ryder Cup Captain was to reinstate a team match play contest to give playing and leadership experience to future Ryder Cup players, vice-captains and captains,” Donald said. “I spoke to a number of former Ryder Cup Captains who were strong advocates of how similar events in the past have benefitted players who were pushing to make Ryder Cup teams, as well as their own captaincy journey.”