Were Spanish players who took part in LIV events in 2022 snubbed by Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald when assembling the Hero Cup squads? In any case, this is what Madrid’s Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño thinks, who did not hesitate to point out what he considers to be an injustice.
The Hero Cup, which must oppose players from Great Britain and Ireland to a selection from Continental Europe during 4 sessions from January 13 to 15 in Abu Dhabi, is holding its first controversy.
Hero Cuo, Spain
As the schedule for the week was unveiled, with a 4-ball day on Friday, followed by two Foursomes sessions on Saturday and singles clashes on Sunday, seven-time European Tour winner Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño is publicly questioned about the absence of Spanish players in the continental selection.
The 42-year-old player, who has not won since 2013, believes that Adrian Otaegui (photo), Pablo Larrazabal and Adri Arnaus have been “snubbed” by Luke Donald who wishes to take this opportunity to do a squad review in anticipation of the Ryder Cup in 8 months in Rome.
Commented ironically by Lee Westwood (“Adrian must have needed a week off.”. ), the absence of the Basque Otaegui, 71st player in the world and winner of the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama, raises questions. Obviously the participation of Otaegui and Larrazabal in LIV tournaments in 2022 must not have played in their favor while the DP World Tour is still waiting to know if it can banish these “rebels” from its circuit, which would de facto exclude them from the Ryder Cup.
A British court is due to rule in February. In which case the decision of Luke Donald not to summon them is completely justified. Another Spaniard, Jon Rahm called him at the beginning of last week for a joint decision by the two entities in charge of the Ryder Cup (PGA of America & DP World Tour) concerning the players of the dissident circuit.
