A new golf event featuring a matchplay finish after 54 holes is "set to replace the Perth International," according to David Prestipino of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The unique tournament will remain at the Lake Karrinyup Golf Course but will be staged early next year, from Feb. 16-19, "to help lure a more attractive field." Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour, the World Super 6 Perth "will be a world-first in professional golf, combining 54 holes of traditional strokeplay over the first three days, with a knockout matchplay format in the final round to determine the winner." A regular cut will still fall after 36 holes before the field is then "further reduced to the top 24 players after 54 holes of regulation, with any ties for the final place decided by a play-off over six holes, with a new 'knockout' hole for tied players who must get nearest to the pin on a purpose-built, 90m hole adjacent to the 18th and using its green." PGA Australia and Australasia CEO Brian Thorburn said that the World Super 6 Perth was a "revolutionary tournament designed to retain the traditions of the game while appealing to a broader market." He said, "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. Cricket has Twenty20, netball has Fast5, rugby union has Rugby 7s and now golf has the World Super 6 Perth." The event is "expected to attract millions of dollars in tourism and branding exposure" for Western Australia and will form part of the 2017 European Tour "Race to Dubai" and the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit (SMH, 9/14).
