Thomas Bjorn and Catriona Matthew Team Up In GolfSixes

GolfSixes To Include Mixed And Women's Teams For The First Time in 2018.

Thomas Bjorn and Catriona Matthew Team Up In GolfSixes
Winners: Denmark won in 2017 but the 2018 tournament will look different with mixed and women's teams being included (Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

GolfSixes To Include Mixed And Women's Teams For The First Time in 2018.

Thomas Bjorn and Catriona Matthew Team Up In GolfSixes

The innovative team matchplay tournament, which debuted in 2017, is set for another first in the 2018 edition of the tournament.

Women's and Mixed teams are going to be able to compete, with some high profile players putting their names down to play at the Centurion Club in St Albans, England.

The matchplay event, consists of teams of two players and in 2018 there are four Wild Card teams that have been added.

The biggest of which is Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn teaming up with Solheim Cup captain Catriona Matthew.

The idea, originally thought up by Bjorn's caddie Ken Herring, has been widely applauded for its positive creativity.

"When the opportunity arose to play as Ryder Cup captain, I thought if we are going to move forward then it was only right to speak to Catriona as the Solheim Cup captain," Bjorn said.

Matthew was on board immediately when Bjorn asked her to play. She said, “The fact it is something different for golf is great – in terms of the round robin match play format then head to head matches, in addition to the men and women playing together of course. All Tours are trying to think of ways to make golf different and encourage a new and younger audience and so I think this whole concept is very exciting."

Keith Pelley, the European Tour chief executive, called the 'Captains Team' a "stroke of brilliance".

Kelley went on, "If you have Thomas Bjorn and Catriona Matthew playing, first of all it helps the Solheim Cup which is fantastic, it also helps the Ryder Cup brand and the combination of men and women playing together gives us an opportunity to widen our fan base."

Two of the other Wild Card teams will include Georgia Hall and Charley Hull in an 'England Women's Team', and the other will be comprise Mel Reid of England teaming up with Suzann Pettersen of Sweden in a 'European Women's Team'.

Charley Hull said: “I think an event like GolfSixes is good for the game of golf. I’m looking forward to teaming up with Georgia and seeing us play against the men will be exciting and something new for the spectators. Hopefully it will be a lot of fun for them to watch.”

The final Wild Card team is yet to be announced.

In total there will be 16 teams competing for a total prize fund of €1 million, with the 2017 champions, Denmark returning.

Thorbjorn Olesen and Lucas Bjerregaard won in 2017 in the final against Scott Hend and Sam Brazel of Australia.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV