The European Tour recently unveiled the new innovative GolfSixes tournament, which follows an exciting team-focused match play format rather than the traditional 72 hole stroke play format. Here is how it all works.
Two-man teamsfrom16 different nations playing in aGreensomes format.
· Each nation is represented by its two leading ranked European Tour members from the 2017 Exemption Category List as at Monday March 13.
· Both players in each team hit tee shots on each hole. The pair then select their favoured tee shot and play alternately for the remainder of the hole.
Group Stages.
Matches are played over six holes with in the group stages, with one point awarded for each hole won. The winner of each match will be the team with most points at the end of six holes.
· Three points will be awarded for winning a match and a draw will earn a team one point.
· Win = 3 points, Draw = 1 point, Loss = 0 points*
*Total ‘Holes Won’ differential within the group for each team will be used to settle any ties within the group.
If this method does not resolve the tie then it will be the result of the match between the tied countries.
If this still does not resolve the tie then the result will be decided by a play off on the special hole.
Knockout Stages:
Matches will be played over as many holes as is required to determine a winner.
Play off:
If a play off is required to determine the winner/qualifier in the group stages or a match in the knockout stages then it will take place as follows:
The special play off hole will be played once maintaining the Greensome matchplay format.
If the match is still not decided then the teams will return to the tee and the match will be decided by the nearest shot to the pin ‘through the green’ i.e. the shot cannot be in a hazard. Measurement by PinPoint and displayed on large screen.
The inaugural GolfSixes event – featuring a prize fund of €1 million – will make its debut on the European Tour schedule at the Centurion Club in St Albans, to the north west of London, on May 6-7, 2017. Both days’ play will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and around the globe on the Tour’s world feed network.
