The European Tour heads back to St Albans for the six-hole team event which they believe will modernise the sport and attract new fans to the game.

GolfSixes consists of two-player teams, with the tournament taking place at Centurion Club on May 5-6.

There is an added twist for this year, though. Making up the 16 teams will be four wildcard teams. Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn will team up with Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew in the ‘Captain’s Team’. Charley Hull and Georgia Hall will form the ‘England Women’s Team’, while Mel Reid and Carlota Ciganda partner up in the ‘European Women’s Team’. The final wildcard goes to Paul Dunne and Gavin Moynihan, who represent Ireland.

GolfSixes, aimed to replicate cricket’s exciting and incredibly successful Twenty20, will be played in the greensomes format with an initial group stage followed by a knockout competition to determine the winners.

In addition to the shortened format, the Tour will again reintroduce amphitheatre-style stands around the tees and greens with music and pyrotechnics.

There will also be a longest drive competition on the 3rd hole, while the 30s shot clock – which caught out Paul Peterson last year – makes its return on the 4th.

All players will have microphones and encouraged to engage with fans where possible, including live streaming on social media.

New cameras will also be introduced to give viewers an inside look with POV cameras, caddie cams and on-course player interviews.

Speaking last year, Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “We want to broaden the appeal of our sport to the millennial demographic and I think this format will do that, not only through the quick and exiting style of play, but also with the interactive digital experience fans will enjoy on site and the innovative television coverage people will enjoy at home.”

So what is the format and who makes up the field this year? The answers are on the next page…

Alex Perry

Editor

Alex is a Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.

Handicap: 14

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