The European Tour’s quest to "keep golf prominent will be endorsed once more with the creation of a unique six-hole team event in England in May," according to Ewan Murray of THE GUARDIAN. GolfSixes will be "held at the Centurion Golf Club near St Albans" on May 6-7, carrying a prize pool of US$1.06M. In a "greensomes match-play format," teams of two from 16 nations will "play matches in a shortened version of golf, first in four groups before knockout stages are staged on the Sunday." The European Tour under new CEO Keith Pelley’s watch has "taken on something like pioneering status." Pelley: "It is another opportunity to try something different then follow that up with significant consumer research with the people who attend or those who view it across multiple platforms." The Tour’s willingness to "operate GolfSixes as things stand, with no sponsor, displays an element of risk-taking." The strength of the field "remains to be seen," but the PGA Tour's Players Championship, held May 11-14, will "inevitably limit the appearance of the European Tour’s marquee names" (GUARDIAN, 2/12). In London, James Corrigan noted the event "aims to reach out a younger audience put off by golf’s staid and pedestrian image." There will be "music and pyrotechnics on the first tee and at various points around the course" (London TELEGRAPH, 2/12). In Ireland, Philip Reid notes the tournament will be "bankrolled by the European Tour." During the tournament, players will "wear microphones, something which Pelley believes will be standard equipment in the future" (IRISH TIMES, 2/13). Pelley 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" (GOLFWEEK.com, 2/12).
