New ‘revolutionary’ golfing format to be introduced in 2017

The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour are set to introduce a revolutionary new format in 2017 as the inaugural World Super 6 Perth features 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.

The World Super 6 Perth will combine 54 holes of traditional stroke play across the first three days with a 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 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.

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive Officer of the European Tour, 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.”