New €1m Six Hole European Tour Event For May

The European Tour has unveiled the latest plan to modernise golf, will it be a success?

six hole european tour event
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The European Tour unveil 'GolfSixes' event which will see 16 countries represented in teams of two in knockout matches over six holes at Centurion Club near London

New €1m Six Hole European Tour Event For May

The European Tour has unveiled the new 'GolfSixes' event set for 6-7th May at the Centurion Club in St Albans near London.

It means England will now host the European Tour three times in 2017 with the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in May and the British Masters at Close House at the end of September/start of October.

GolfSixes will see 16 countries represented in teams of two in knockout matches over six holes for a prize fund of €1,000,000.

All players will be wearing microphones and there will be music and fireworks on the first tee as part of European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley's plans to modernise golf and make it more appealing to 'millennials'.

Pelley said, "There is no question that the greatest atmosphere in golf comes every two years at The Ryder Cup and we are keen to try and emulate that national fervour in this format."

Related: Centurion Club course review

The opening day is devoted to 'Champions League-style' group matches where, like football, teams will be awarded 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss, before the final day of knockout golf from last-16 matches all the way to the final.

Players are guaranteed €15,000 whilst the winning pair will walk away with €100,000 each.

Related: 2017 European Tour schedule

The format is greensomes, where both players hit tee shots before playing alternate shot from the best drive.

The leading European Tour player from each country who is available will pick their partner.

Keith Pelley said, "Golf needs to modernise and introducing innovative new formats is a major part of achieving that aim.

“I encourage everyone, whether they are a golf fan or not, to come along to the Centurion Club in May and immerse yourself in an occasion which will be unlike anything else you have experienced on a golf course before.”

The 'GolfSixes' does come just days before The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, golf's unofficial fifth major, so some of the Tour's leading players may not compete.

It's the latest new idea from the European Tour which has seen the World Super 6 Perth, which takes place this week, as well as 2017's Rolex Series - seven events with inflated purses.

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