AUSSIE golf fans will get the first chance to see a revolutionary new tournament format in 2017 that has been developed by the European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.
A new event to be called the World Super 6 Perth will feature 54 holes of stroke play before the final 24 players battle it out over a dramatic final day six-hole shoot-out.
To be played at Lake Karrinyup Country Club from 16-19 February, 2017 and co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour, the World Super 6 Perth will be a world-first in professional golf.
Many might immediately doubt the idea but we’ve all seen the success of innovations like Twenty20 Cricket and Rugby Sevens. Building on that the move is aimed at broadening the general appeal of golf.
We”ll hold off any comments till we see the concept in action, safe in the knowledge that The Open Championship or US Masters won’t suddenly become some sort of knockout. We certainly like watching events such as the Big Bash and Twenty20 cricket…. as well as the occasional test match.
How the World Super 6 Perth will be played
The World Super 6 Perth will combine 54 holes of traditional stroke play across the first three days with an exciting knockout match play format for the fourth and final round.
A regular cut will fall after 36 holes before the field is then further reduced to the top-24 players following 54 holes of regulation play, with any ties for 24th place being decided by a play-off. Those remaining players will then earn their places in the six-hole shoot-out.
Any matches tied after the six holes will be decided by playing the new Knockout Hole – a purpose-built 90-metre hole which will be constructed at Lake Karrinyup, with a new tee placed adjacent to the 18th fairway and utilising the 18th green.
The Knockout Hole will be played once and if a winner is still not decided, the competitors will return to the new tee and take on a nail-biting decider, with the victor decided on a nearest-the-pin contest where only the first shot counts.
That player will then progress to the next round of the match play or, in the case of the final match, win the tournament.
Designed to retain the traditions of the game whilst appealing to a broader market
The World Super 6 Perth is a revolutionary golf tournament designed to retain the traditions of the game whilst appealing to a broader market.
“This is an exciting day for international golf as we launch the World Super 6 Perth; a golf tournament which is set to change the way people view golf,” said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA of Australia and PGA Tour of Australasia.
“Cricket has Twenty20, Netball has Fast5, Rugby Union has Rugby7’s and now golf has the World Super 6 Perth.”
A huge proponent for golf’s need to adapt and find a shortened format, Keith Pelley, Chief Executive Officer of the European Tour, is excited to see the World Super 6 Perth make its debut in 2017.
Pelley said: “This initiative was something that we spoke about at great length to our Tournament Committee, led by Chairman Thomas Bjørn. We are thrilled to participate in this because, at the European Tour, we believe that golf needs to look at new and innovative formats.”
The ground-breaking World Super 6 Perth will also showcase the changing face of Perth and attract millions of dollars in exposure for Western Australia.
“I think this type of competition will appeal to all golfers, but especially to a younger demographic, and will encourage competitors to play aggressive and attacking golf,” said Western Australian Premier and Tourism Minister Colin Barnett.
“Golf is very popular throughout the world, especially Europe and Asia, and has a high appeal for many people in some of our top tourism markets, including Singapore, China, Malaysia and the UK.”
“The World Super 6 Perth will deliver valuable national and international media coverage of WA throughout the four-day broadcast, not only through the stunning scenery at Lake Karrinyup, but also through vignettes and billboards shown throughout play.”
This revolutionary golf tournament aims to create an event that West Australians call their own and is a collaborative effort between the PGA Tour of Australasia, the European Tour and the broader West Australian golf community.
“Western Australia has a long and proud history of hosting world-class sporting events. Our vision for the World Super 6 Perth is to create an event embraced by Western Australia that celebrates the WA culture and way of life,” added Thorburn.
“To help make this vision come to life we will be working closely alongside Golf WA, the WA Division of the PGA, Lake Karrinyup Country Club and the entire WA golf family.”
“The World Super 6 Perth also cements the PGA Tour of Australasia’s relationship with the European Tour. Together we now co-sanction three tournaments in the Australasia region, we are working together to grow the game.”
The World Super 6 Perth will be played at Lake Karrinyup Country Club from 16-19 February and will form part of both the 2017 European Tour Race to Dubai and the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.